Can You Cut Eliquis In Half?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Eliquis tablets can be cut in half.
My doctor reduced my Eliquis dose to 2.5mg twice a day. Since I have many 5 mg pills left over and Eliquis is a very expensive drug, I would like to know if I can split these pills in half with a pill cutter.
Oct 31, 2022- Eliquis tablets can be safely cut in half to achieve a lower dose, though this destroys the film coating that makes them easier to swallow and taste better.
- Split or crushed Eliquis tablets should not be stored for later use, so take each half-tablet dose immediately after splitting rather than cutting multiple tablets in advance.
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:
Final Words
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References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Film-coated
- A tablet covered with a thin protective layer that makes it easier to swallow and protects it from moisture.
- Palatable
- Pleasant or acceptable to taste.
- Absorption
- The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream and is taken up by the body.
- Administration
- The method or way in which a medication is given to a patient.
- Apixaban
- The generic name for the blood-thinning medication sold under the brand name Eliquis.
- Scored
- Having a line or groove pressed into a tablet to make it easier to split into smaller doses.
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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