Tablet splitting
Flynn K
Record ID 32000001794
English
Authors' objectives:
This report aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of splitting drug tablets.
Authors' recommendations:
The limited available literature indicates that:
- Tablet splitting, either manually or with devices designed for the purpose, does not routinely produce equal halves.
- Depending on the dose-response curve and therapeutic window for a particular drug, this inequality of split may be associated with clinically important outcomes or risks. However, currently available studies do not provide evidence that potential clinically important outcomes or adverse events have actually occurred or been observed.
- Splitting may negate the effects of specific tablet formulations such as enteric coatings or other sustained release mechanisms. Accordingly, oral dosage forms that should not be crushed, split, or chewed include sublingual or buccal products, enteric-coated products, and extended-release products. In some cases, liquid dosage forms or capsules whose contents may be substituted are available for patients who have difficulty swallowing whole tablets.
- VAs Tablet Splitting Committee [within the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) Strategic Healthcare Group]concurs that splitting of sustained release preparations should not be recommended.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www4.va.gov/VATAP/docs/TabletSplitting2000tagm.pdf
Year Published:
2000
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
United States
MeSH Terms
- Tablets
Contact
Organisation Name:
VA Technology Assessment Program
Contact Address:
Liz Adams, VA Technology Assessment Program, Office of Patient Care Services (11T), VA Boston Healthcare System Room 4D-142, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 USA Tel: +1 617 278 4469; Fax: +1 617 264 6587;
Contact Name:
elizabeth.adams@med.va.gov
Contact Email:
elizabeth.adams@med.va.gov
Copyright:
Technology Assessment Unit, Office of Patient Care Services, US Department of Veterans Affairs (VATAP)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.