Can You Cut Ultracet (Acetaminophen; Tramadol) Tablets In Half?

Quick Answer

Yes, Ultracet tablets (acetaminophen; tramadol) can be cut in half. Doing so with not affect how the medication works. However, the tablets are not scored so you should be sure to use a pill splitter to accurately cut them.

Detailed Answer

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As mentioned, Ultracet tablets, which contain two drugs, acetaminophen and tramadol, can safely be split in half.

They are not extended-release and have no special properties that would preclude them from being cut safely.

However, it is important to point out that Ultracet tablets (and generics) are not scored, which means they do not have a groove/line down the middle to make them easier to break in half.

Below is an image of two different generic Ultracet tablets (specifically, these are tablets from two different manufacturers of tramadol-APAP 37.5-325 mg) showing that they are not scored:

Since Ultracet tablets are not scored, I highly recommend using a pill splitter to cut them.

Attempting to split an unscored tablet with something like a knife or just your fingers could increase the risk that you end up with uneven halves or even crumble the tablet entirely, leading to an inaccurate dosage.

Lastly, it important to note that you should only split tablets on a per-dose basis. Don't cut them all in half and store for later use. Doing so could make them susceptible to degrade more quickly versus intact tablets. 

Final Words

You mentioned in your question that you wanted to cut down your dose so I just want to emphasize that you should make sure to speak with your doctor first before making any dosage changes.

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