Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 LiSaG asks

Q: Triptan cut in half?

Has anyone tried cutting a triptan in half, such as Maxalt, for a smaller dose? Does it work?

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Answers (1)
Teri Robert, Health Guide
4/28/10 11:06pm

LiSaV,

 

I tried half a Maxalt once. The directions on those don't say not to cut them, so I tried it. It did nothing for me.

 

Depending on what triptan (or other medication) you're cosidering cutting, please check with your doctor or pharmacist if you don't still have the patient information sheet to check and see if it says anything about not cutting them. Some people think that when the pharmaceutical companies say not to cut tablets, they're doing to to make more money. That's not the case. Some medicatons are formulated in layers or with the ingredients bound in certain ways that make them less effective if cut.

 

Teri

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4/29/10 5:12pm

Thanks Teri!

 

I know some medications shouldn't be cut for that very reason. I've tried taking half a pill of Maxalt maybe a dozen times now, and it only aborted my migraine about half the time.

LisaG to be (:

9 days!!

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Teri Robert, Health Guide
4/29/10 5:40pm

You're welcome, of course!

 

I was sure you knew that about tablet formulations, but not everyone does, so I explained for other people who would read too. It's sometimes hard to remember that lots of people read answers that we may write for a specific person. :-)

 

Nine days! Exciting times.

 

Teri

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By LiSaG— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 04/27/10