Health tips : A study suggests, Splitting pills could lead to patients taking the wrong doses. Researchers from Ghent University in Belgium said there could be "serious medical consequences" for patients.
Tablets which have a slender margin between a dose that is therapeutic and one that is toxic are riskiest. The study was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Researchers from Ghent University asked five volunteers to split eight different sized tablets using three different techniques.
The participants used three unusual methods to split the pills a specialist splitting device, scissors and a kitchen knife. The pills were different shapes and sizes.
Errors :
They found that 31% of the tablets that were split were unusual from the expected remaining dose. The study initiate the splitting device was the most accurate. However, it still formed errors in 13% of cases.
The drugs were prescribe for a range of health conditions, including Parkinson's, heart failure, thrombosis and arthritis.
She said that most tablets were not proper for splitting and it would be better for more doses to be available.
She said, "There are situations where patients involve a dose of medication which can only be provided through splitting a tablet. This might be since there is no liquid form available or it is not acceptable to the patient.
She added that all decisions should connecting the patient where possible and takes into account patient and formulation related factors.
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