Can You Cut Lisinopril Tablets In Half?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not lisinopril tablets can safely be cut in half.
Hi, I am taking lisinopril 40mg and my blood pressure is good. My doctor is switching me to 20mg but I have plenty of 40mg on hand. Can I just split these lisinopril 40mg tablets in half?
Nov 10, 2022- Lisinopril tablets can be safely cut in half, and many have a score mark to make cutting easier. Only split tablets one at a time rather than storing pre-cut pieces, since split tablets are more susceptible to moisture damage. Lisinopril is available in multiple tablet strengths and also comes in liquid form if splitting tablets is inconvenient.
Answer
Yes, lisinopril tablets can safely be cut in half. In fact, many lisinopril tablets have a score mark down the middle to make cutting them easier. However, even if they don't have a score mark, they can still be split. Just make sure to use a sharp knife or dedicated pill splitter to ensure an even cut down the middle.
All strengths of lisinopril tablets can be cut in half, so this includes:
- Lisinopril 2.5 mg
- Lisinopril 5mg
- Lisinopril 10mg
- Lisinopril 20mg
- Lisinopril 30mg
- Lisinopril 40mg
In your case, splitting the 40mg tablets you have to attain a dose of 20mg makes sense. I just recommend that you only cut one tablet at a time, and not all of them at once to store for later use since splitting tablets can sometimes make the split pieces more susceptible to moisture damage.
Alternatives To Splitting
If you don't want to go through the hassle of splitting tablets, you do have some alternative options.
Lisinopril is available in a variety of strengths (listed above), so they may be available in what your doctor has changed your dose to.
The tablets can also safely be crushed and sprinkled on top of food.
Lastly, it is available in a liquid form (Qbrelis 1mg/mL Solution), but currently, it is only available as a brand name, so it may not be covered by your insurance.
Final Words
I hope you found this helpful!
Reach back out anytime.
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Lisinopril
- A medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure by relaxing blood vessels.
- Score mark
- A line or groove pressed into a tablet to make it easier to break in half.
- Pill splitter
- A small device designed to cut tablets in half evenly and safely.
- Dose
- A specific amount of medication taken at one time.
- Moisture damage
- Deterioration of a medication caused by exposure to water or humidity.
- Brand name
- The proprietary name given to a medication by the company that manufactures it.
- Insurance coverage
- Whether a health insurance plan will pay for a specific medication or treatment.
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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