The Chamber of Pharmacists in Hesse, Germany, has issued a warning about the dangers of dividing medication tablets if they are not specifically designed for this purpose.
This practice can have serious consequences, including a loss of effectiveness, accidental overdose, or an increase in side effects.
The chamber emphasizes that the presence of a line on a tablet does not necessarily mean it can be divided. Sometimes, the purpose of this line is simply to differentiate the medication from others more easily.
If you have difficulty taking a tablet due to its large size, it is advisable to consult a doctor or pharmacist regarding the possibility of switching to another medication with the same effect but a smaller size.
On the other hand, the chamber cautions against splitting tablets using a kitchen knife, as this may lead to a loss of the active substance if not done properly and result in the tablet breaking into uneven parts. Therefore, using a dedicated tablet splitter is the preferred method for dividing medication tablets.
In general, it is important to take divided medication tablets immediately to avoid a loss of effectiveness.
