tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949421001644904537.post5994114257217543174..comments2024-01-24T18:56:58.635-08:00Comments on EXPLORING CULTURES: A Global Blog (all languages): Lipitor tablets, to break or not to break them in half, that is the questionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949421001644904537.post-87572129582870593292010-04-26T06:26:29.969-07:002010-04-26T06:26:29.969-07:001. My cardio doc in OHIO friend tells me:
'&#...1. My cardio doc in OHIO friend tells me:<br /><br />''Dear Danny ,<br />I am now really relieved that I didn't give my patients the wrong<br />instructions re Lipitor. I did occasionally instruct my patients to<br />split lipid-lowering pills. You see, when I lower the dosage, I just<br />don't see why we should waste the pills with higher strength, like,<br />"Here is a new prescription for pills of half of the dose. Throw away<br />those higher dose pills." I just don't see how should we waist<br />expensive pills like that. Let's see what Pfizer tells you."<br /><br />2. MONEY IS A HUGE CONCERN. Perhaps not for Lipitor because it's<br />generic now. But if more people were concerned about saving in more<br />places in years past.......well, you know where that is going. Health<br />care is hardly even about health care anymore. It's big business gone<br />bad. John Q. pinches pennies while statin makers, et al haul in the<br />big bucks or a naturally occuring substance.<br /><br />It's all about money for the Pharm companies. Why do you think they<br />are pushing combination products so hard? And pushing for every man,<br />woman and child to take statin drugs not matter their health history<br />or risks? Statin are a huge money maker for them and they don't want<br />one penny of it taken away by someone trying to save a few bucks.<br /><br />It is sad indeed if this is about money at the cost of truth. ***I<br />applaud dan bloom for asking good qusetions of Pfzier and encourage<br />him to investigate fully. Just turn down the volume on the hyperbole<br />a little.<br /><br />3. Some pills have special coatings or time-release formulations that<br />would make splitting them dangerous. Cutting such a tablet would make<br />its absorption unpredictable.<br /><br />This is not the case with Lipitor, however. Researchers at Veterans<br />Affairs and Kaiser Permanente in California determined that splitting<br />atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor)<br />was an effective way to lower costs without compromising cholesterol<br />control. The study was published in the Journal of Managed Care<br />Pharmacy (November/December 2002).<br /><br />In any case, you should get clear instructions from your doctor.<br /><br />Hope this helps,<br /><br /><br />4. A book I have from my Doctors surgery states that cholesterol is<br />made in the liver when we sleep. I have also seen reports stating that<br />the more a person sleeps, the higher their cholesterol and the lower<br />their good cholesterol. A study also showed how sleep devravation over<br />a 5 day period reduced cholesterol levels. So, if we spit a statin<br />pill, will it have the same desired effect? Everyone I know takes<br />their statin in the evening, so I assume there is a reason for this<br />backed up by research?<br /><br />5. Here's another one that answers specific FAQ's about tablet splitting.<br /><br />http://www.firstcarolinacare.com/pharmacy/splittingfaq.htm<br /><br />It would appear Big Pharma is rebelling against profit loss by<br />advertising against pill splitting. Profit drives everything in<br />pharmaceuticals. Sorry to disappoint you danbloom.<br /><br />PLEASE NOTE THAT MANY - IN FACT, MOST - TABLETS SHOULD NEVER BE SPLIT<br />OR CRUSHED UNLESS YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TO DO SO.<br /><br />6 . Have you asked a pharmacist? I trust them because they specialize<br />in the chemistry of the medications. The doctors just prescribe them<br />with the knowledge that this pill goes for that disease.<br /><br />Some pills (and definitely capsules) have a protective coating on them<br />so they dissolve in the proper part of the digestive system. If they<br />dissolve too early, you may experience unpleasant side effects. Some<br />are made to trickle into the system over a long period and they<br />shouldn't be cut and damaged. My Diltiazem is a pill in a capsule so I<br />should not remove it.<br /><br />Try asking your pharmacist to see if your particular form of Lipitor can be cut.DANIELBLOOMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130493903696077379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949421001644904537.post-31997069491733077812010-04-26T06:26:23.271-07:002010-04-26T06:26:23.271-07:00How do I know if I can participate in the Tablet-S...How do I know if I can participate in the Tablet-Splitting Program?<br />Do I have to participate in the Tablet-Splitting Program?<br />How do I participate in the Table-Splitting Program?<br />Is it safe to split the medications in the Tablet-Splitting Program? <br />How does tablet splitting save money?<br />Can I split all of my other medications and save money? <br />Should I split all of my tablets in half at the same time?<br />Can my pharmacist change my current prescription?<br />What if I break or lose my tablet splitter? <br />Are all tablet splitters covered?<br />Is the Tablet-Splitting Program available through Mail Order or Choice90?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949421001644904537.post-24973421070048398372010-04-26T05:53:43.809-07:002010-04-26T05:53:43.809-07:00I think it's pretty common practice for pharma...I think it's pretty common practice for pharma companies to advise not to break pills.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com