Can Xanax (Alprazolam) Be Split?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Xanax (alprazolam) can be split in half.
I've been prescribed 60 0.5mg alprazolam tablets every month. I get the orange oval ones, but they don't seem to work very well compared to half of an oval blue 1mg pill. Would it be possible to get 30 1mg pills halved instead of the 0.5mg pills from my pharmacy?
Sep 07, 2022- Xanax tablets that are not extended-release can be safely cut in half, and most alprazolam tablets have a score line to help you split them evenly. Extended-release versions of alprazolam should never be cut because it can cause the entire dose to be released at once, which could be dangerous. If you need a different dose strength, you will need a new prescription from your doctor since pharmacies cannot switch doses on their own.
Answer
Yes, Xanax (alprazolam) can be cut in half, as long as it is not the extended-release version of the drug. In fact, most, if not all alprazolam tablets are scored to ease in cutting/splitting the tablets evenly down the middle.
From a safety standpoint, alprazolam can be cut since it is not an extended or modified-release product.
Drugs that utilize extended or modified release mechanisms should never be cut as that can result in the entire dose being delivered at once (i.e. 'dose dumping'), causing a potential overdose. Fortunately, this is not an issue with alprazolam.
Unfortunately, your pharmacy cannot switch your prescription from the 0.5 mg dose of alprazolam to the 1 mg without a new prescription from the doctor.
In some states, it may be legal for the pharmacy to simply call the doctor and have the office verbally authorize a change, but most states will require a new prescription to be sent in.
Final Words
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References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Extended-release
- A medication formulation designed to slowly release the drug into your body over many hours instead of all at once.
- Alprazolam
- The generic name for the prescription anxiety medication commonly known by the brand name Xanax.
- Scored
- Having a line or groove pressed into a tablet to make it easier to split the pill in half evenly.
- Modified-release
- A medication formulation that controls how and when the drug is released into your body, similar to extended-release products.
- Dose dumping
- When a modified or extended-release medication suddenly releases its entire dose at once, potentially causing harm.
- Overdose
- Taking more of a medication than is safe, which can cause serious health problems or poisoning.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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