Can You Cut Eliquis In Half?

Answer

Eliquis (apixaban) can safely be cut or split in half, but it is important to note the tablets are 'film-coated', and doing so will destroy this coating.

the film-coating on the tablets makes them easier to swallow, more palatable (they reportedly have a bitter taste), and protects the tablet from moisture. It does not affect how the tablets are absorbed or work when you take a dose, so destroying the film coating doesn't affect the drug in a clinical sense.

In fact, and we wrote about this in another article, Eliquis can safely be crushed and mixed with water or applesauce and taken that way if it represents the best administration option for you.

Splitting Eliquis Tablets

I certainly understand your concern about not wanting to waste the Eliquis 5mg tablets you have on hand. As mentioned above, you can split the Eliquis 5mg tablets in half to attain a dose of 2.5mg.

Since the tablets are film-coated, you'll want to make sure you use a sharp razor or dedicated pill splitter to cut these tablets evenly in half. You can see in the image below that these tablets are not scored.

Also, it is important to note that crushed or split tablets should not be stored for later use, so don't cut all the tablets at once.

The film-coating does lend some protection against moisture, so if you do split the tablets in half (which will destroy the coating), be sure to take your first dose immediately, and then store the other half-tablet securely and take it for your next dose.

Additional Information

You can find more information about Eliquis here:

• Eliquis Drug Information

Final Words

Thanks for reaching out to us and be sure to contact us again anytime!