How To Divide A Capsule In Half?

1. Can You Divide A Capsule In Half?

Can You Divide A Capsule In Half-sourced: blatepapes

Dividing a capsule in half refers to the practice of dividing a medicine capsule into two parts. People do that because it can get the correct dosage.

In general, capsules can not be divided in half unless recommended by your healthcare. However, dividing a capsule in half depends on your situation and capsule types. There are many types of capsules that you can split in case you do not overdose or get the incorrect dose.

The capsule contains liquid, powder, and gel. The liquid and gel doses are too small to control, so people prefer to divide the powder capsules in half.

2. Is It Safe To Divide A Capsule In Half?

Is it safe to divide a capsule in half? It depends on your ways and the capsule contents:

Dividing Methods

Dividing Methods-sourced: miro

If done the right way, it is safe to divide a capsule in half. The function of the capsule shell itself is to protect the medicine inside the capsule shell from being affected and to take effect safely.

Therefore, the dividing method is important to your capsules. The separation process must be safe and sterile, and bacteria and humidity in the external environment must not be allowed to affect the activity of the drug in the capsule shell.

Capsule Contents

Capsule Contents-sourced: stardustkratom

For drugs that can be taken in powder form, it is safe to divide them in half. But for some drugs that contain trace elements and are easily affected by ambient temperature and humidity, and capsules containing special active ingredients, it is not safe to divide them in half.

3. How To Divide A Capsule In Half?

To divide a capsule in half, you need to follow the steps below:

Precaution: Check with your pharmacist in advance to make sure the capsules you take can be divided.

Step 1: Prepare the Tools

Prepare a pair of rubber gloves to avoid contaminating the medicine inside the capsule when breaking the capsule. Prepare a pharmaceutical scoop so you can easily distribute the contents after breaking the capsule. A clean container for broken capsules.

Step 2: Separate Capsules

Gently pinch both ends of the capsule and twist the capsule firmly. Separate the body and cap of the capsule. After the capsule is opened, place the capsule powder in a clean and sterilized container.

Step 3: Separate Capsule Powder

Use a pharmaceutical scoop to divide the capsule powder into two even portions. Weigh the capsule powder using a precision electronic laboratory scale, then redistribute it evenly into two portions.

Step 4: Re-capsule Powder

Repackage the divided powder into two smaller empty capsule shells. Finally, the capsule shell is sealed.

4. When Should You Divide A Capsule In Half?

There are increasing need to divide a capsule in half in your life when you are facing with the following situations:

Drugs Are Too Expensive

Drugs Are Too Expensive-sourced: uoflhealth

Some imported drugs are too expensive due to the high research and development costs. Therefore, many special drugs designed to treat rare and serious diseases are too expensive. During administration, as directed by your doctor, you can divide a capsule in half to take.

Capsules Hard To Swallow

Hard To Swallow-sourced: goldennaturals

Infants and young children whose swallowing function is not fully developed, elderly people with reduced swallowing function, and patients who have lost their swallowing function due to coma or illness are very suitable to divide a capsule in half to take.

Too Many Doses In A Single Capsule

Too Many Doses In A Single Capsule-sourced: becomelucid

Infants and young children require less dosage, so a single capsule may contain too much dosage.

A Single Capsule Is Too Strong

The filling contents of some capsules may contain very small amounts of strong pharmaceutical ingredients. For some patients, the dosage required is very small, so you can divide the capsules in half to take.

To Be Mixed With Other Medications

To Be Mixed With Other Medications-sourced: verywellhealth

Some pets or livestock animals may require many types of drugs, and different doses of drugs may be used together. Therefore, it is necessary to divide a capsule in half and mix it with other medicines.

5. What Types Of Capsules You Can Divide In Half?

For patients who have difficulty swallowing, a common solution is to crush the tablet or open the capsule.

The following are the types of capsules that can be divided in half:

Vitamin Capsules

Vitamin Capsules-sourced: megawecare

The main nutritional component of vitamin capsules is various vitamins. Whether taken separately or alone, its dosage and effectiveness will not be affected.

Herb Capsules

Herb Capsules-sourced: drpaddo

Herb capsules are mainly used to enhance the body's immunity. It is ideal for taking separately without sacrificing potency.

Probiotic Capsules

Probiotic Capsules-sourced: bronsonvitamins

Probiotic capsules are mainly used to regulate the probiotics in the intestines of infants and young children to improve intestinal health. This kind of capsule can be disassembled and used if you cannot swallow it. The effect is better when mixed with milk powder.

Fish Oil Or Liquid Capsules

Fish Oil Or Liquid Capsules-sourced: rositarealfoods

For fish oil, liquid, and other capsules, you can consider dividing the capsules and taking them orally. The physical properties of oil and liquid capsules are relatively stable, and the efficacy and dosage will not be affected.

6. What Types Of Capsules You Should Not Divide In Half?

Whether you want to take a smaller dose or are unable to swallow the entire capsule, it is common practice to divide the capsule in half.

The following are types of capsules that should not be divided in half:

Sustained or Controlled-Release Capsules

Sustained or Controlled Release Capsules-sourced: wellonapharma

Sustained-release or controlled-release capsules refer to capsules that are slowly released into the bloodstream. When they are divided, the medicine loses the protection of the capsule and cannot be released correctly, causing unnecessary side effects.

Enteric-coated or Protectively Coated Capsules

Enteric-coated or Protectively Coated Capsules-sourced: setylose

Common enteric-coated or protective capsules include aspirin, advil, bisacodyl, etc. The coating in these medications provides a protective barrier to the stomach lining. If the capsule shell is removed, the drug's coating may also be damaged, causing the drug to irritate the stomach.

Capsules Formulated With Specific Technology

Capsules Formulated With Specific Technology-sourced: capsugel

The capsule, if divided into a half, results in the release of specific pharmaceutical ingredients that enhance the strength of the drug by preventing premature breakage of the capsule.

7. Does Divide A Capsule In Half Reduce Its Effectiveness?

However, different capsules are divided in half, and the effects may be different. Some drugs are very sensitive to factors such as heat, moisture, and humidity in the external environment. They may be contaminated after leaving the sterile environment of the laboratory, but some drugs may have no effect.

Some capsule that cannot be opened and divided in half might have serious consequences and reduce its effectiveness:

Overdose

Overdose-sourced: freshspirulina

After the capsule is opened, changes in the absorption of the drug inside the capsule may lead to a fatal overdose.

Insufficient Dose

Insufficient Dose-sourced: flickr

After the capsules of some sensitive drugs are opened, they lose the protection of the capsule shell and the drugs will be digested and absorbed by the stomach first. Intestinal absorption is weak, resulting in under-dosing.

Destroy Sustained-release Properties of the Drug

When the capsule is opened, the activity and properties of the drug are destroyed. The active ingredient is no longer released and is gradually absorbed, resulting in an overdose.

Destroy the Active Ingredient of a Drug

When a capsule is divided into half, the released active ingredient may degrade when exposed to light, moisture, or food with which it is mixed for administration.

Conclusion:

To divide a capsule in half is a good way to get your drug dose. Learning how to divide a capsule in half can help you make decisions when you are facing the situations that are in this list. Through this post, you might get the right method to divide a capsule in half, if there is more you want to know, do not hesitate to contact us and get your capsules now!