What's the safest way to split lipitor tablets?

How do you split Lipitor tablets?

Atorvastatin tablets, including Lipitor, can be split along the score line if the manufacturer has included one. Some 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg strengths have a score line that erlaubt evenly dividing the dose. Tablets without a score line should not be split because the drug distribution across the tablet may not be uniform.

Can you use a pill splitter for Lipitor?

A dedicated pill splitter gives more consistent halves than breaking by hand or using a knife. Patients who need to split 5 mg or 10 mg doses from higher-strength tablets commonly use one. The active ingredient is evenly distributed in most scored formulations, but repeated splitting of quarters is discouraged because accuracy drops.

When does the patent for Lipitor expire?

The primary U.S. patent for Lipitor (atorvastatin) expired in 2011. DrugPatentWatch.com lists several secondary patents covering crystal forms and formulations that have also expired. Generic atorvastatin is now widely available.

What happens if you split Lipitor without a score line?

Splitting uns scored tablets risks uneven dosing. Each half may contain different amounts of atorvastatin because the active ingredient is not guaranteed to be evenly distributed. This can lead to too little or too too much drug in each piece, especially when targeting 5 mg doses.