(BlackDoctor.org) -- We’re certainly seeing tougher economic times these days. In terms of spending, it means that people don’t have the same amount of money that they used to. So what do we do? We cut corners. Does that mean people are cutting corners on their meds? Yep.

Patients’ pill taking regimens have increasingly become an area of concern. According to the American Pharmacists Association, many patients have changed the way they take medications because of hardship in the current economic crisis.  It’s reported that patients are skipping doses and splitting tablets as a way to save money. Medical organizations including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical Association advise against splitting tablets -- it should not be done unless it's specified in the drug's labeling.

Family members sometimes aren’t aware that their loved ones are doing this. Knowing the facts can save a loved one’s life, or even your own. Once upon a time your pharmacist may have mentioned some pill-taking safety information, but being reminded of those tips can be a good thing. What happens when you cut corners on your meds?

Patients will sometimes buy higher strength tablets and then break the tablets in half or quarter doses in an effort to lower drug costs. How it works is that a 40mg tablet may cost the same amount as the 20mg tablet. So a patient may try to save money by buying the 40mg tablets and splitting them all in half.  Splitting tablets can be risky, though it might seem like a great way to save money.

Why is Splitting Tablets Risky?

There are a number of reasons, but here are four given by FDA:

• You might get confused about the correct dose. There have been cases when people have purchased higher strength tablets intending to split them, but then they forgot to split them.  Instead, they took the whole tablet, leading to accidentally taking too much medicine.

• It’s questionable whether split tablets contain equal distribution of medicine.  Studies have shown that the actual dose in each half of a split tablet often is different. So while the two halves may look the same, they don't necessarily contain equal amounts of medicine. 

• Some tablets are hard to split. Some tablets are too small to split, may have an unusual shape that makes them hard to split, or may crumble more easily when split. These factors make it difficult to accurately split a tablet.

• Not all pills are safe to split. Some pills should never be split. Pills, such as capsules and time-released drugs, should always be taken whole.  For example, some tablets are coated with a substance that helps to release the medicine slowly. Splitting these tablets destroys the coating, which means you might absorb the medicine too fast or not at all.

If You Still Just Must Split a Tablet

FDA has approved drugs where tablet splitting is part of the manufacturer’s drug application. If you are considering splitting a tablet, FDA recommends that you get advice from your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether it is appropriate for your medication.

Don’t split tablets to save money. Instead, find out if you qualify for extra help to pay for your medication; ask your healthcare team or pharmacist for referrals. You may also want to talk to patient advocate representatives or research medical assistance programs, such as through Medicare or AARP.

Help your loved ones and communities stay strong and healthy during these tough times.  Pass on what you know.

By Della Jules, BDO Contributing Writer