Can You Cut Januvia Tablets In Half?

Answer

Januvia (sitagliptin) tablets are not recommended to be cut, split or crushed, according to the manufacturer.

Per the prescribing information for Januvia:

The recommended dose of JANUVIA is 100 mg once daily. JANUVIA can be taken with or without food. JANUVIA should be swallowed whole. The tablets must not be split, crushed, or chewed before swallowing.

Why Can't Januvia Be Split In Half?

While the manufacturer does not give a specific reason why Januvia should not be cut in half, it is important to note that the tablets are film-coated.

Typically, a film-coating on tablets makes them easier to swallow and can protect them temporarily from the contents of the stomach, improving drug stability. If a film-coated tablet is split or crushed, this coating is destroyed.

There, unfortunately, is no information or data available to know if the drug will be negatively affected if it is crushed, cut or split, so, for this reason, it is important to not do so. The tablets should be swallowed whole.

It is also important to note that since Januvia tablets are not intended to be cut or split, they do not have a score mark, as you can see in the image below:

Alternatives To Splitting Januvia Tablets

Januvia is available in three different strengths:

• Januvia 25mg
• Januvia 50mg
• Januvia 100mg

If your doctor has switched you from the 100mg dose to the 50mg dose, be sure to get another prescription so the pharmacy can dispense the correct medication for you.

It would be prudent to hold on to the Januvia 100mg tablets until they expire, just in case you need to increase your dose in the future.

Final Words

Thanks for contacting us and please do so again in the future!