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Post by melanell on Aug 16, 2015 20:40:28 GMT
I would take one pill at a time, and I would take that one pill two times each 24 hours, or approx. 1 pill per 12 hours.
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Post by melanell on Aug 16, 2015 20:41:26 GMT
I read it as saying take one tablet two times a day so one in the morning and one at night. What are the other interpretations? The doctor wants me to take 1 tablet a day-- 1/2 in the morning 1/2 in the afternoon. Her words to me. The pharmacy is filling it for 60 pills not 30, which made me realize this month they interpreted what she wrote down as taking 2 per day. So I'm utterly confused, ha! That is definitely not what those directions say.
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Post by elaine on Aug 16, 2015 20:47:09 GMT
FWIW be sure that it is a pill that can be simply cut in half for half-dosage. Some pills, like time-released drugs, cannot be simply cut in half to get 1/2 the milligrams.
As the directions are written, you are supposed to take 1 pill twice a day.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,709
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on Aug 16, 2015 20:49:05 GMT
FWIW be sure that it is a pill that can be simply cut in half for half-dosage. Some pills, like time-released drugs, cannot be simply cut in half to get 1/2 the milligrams. As the directions are written, you are supposed to take 1 pill twice a day. It's not a time releases so I assume I can cut it I'm half since she told me to? Which is an illogical way to make an assumption I'm sure, ha!
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Post by utmr on Aug 16, 2015 20:53:01 GMT
I agree with the others. 2 pills each day.
But my mom is on a long time maintenance medication. The dr wrote it like that and had her split it because for some reason 10 mg tablets were cheaper than 5 mg.
But unless they've specifically agreed to that its confusing.
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Post by elaine on Aug 16, 2015 20:53:36 GMT
FWIW be sure that it is a pill that can be simply cut in half for half-dosage. Some pills, like time-released drugs, cannot be simply cut in half to get 1/2 the milligrams. As the directions are written, you are supposed to take 1 pill twice a day. It's not a time releases so I assume I can cut it I'm half since she told me to? Which is an illogical way to make an assumption I'm sure, ha! If she told you to, it is probably fine! Given my recent experiences with some health professionals, I'd probably double-check and look up the exact medication on WebMD, or a similar site, to be sure it was okay.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 5, 2024 18:31:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 20:53:43 GMT
My GP has done something similar in the past. I.e. Prednisone and I would have some on hand in case I needed them again. She did this with my cholesterol med as well.
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Post by Meri-Lyn on Aug 16, 2015 21:03:37 GMT
I agree with the others. 2 pills each day. But my mom is on a long time maintenance medication. The dr wrote it like that and had her split it because for some reason 10 mg tablets were cheaper than 5 mg. But unless they've specifically agreed to that its confusing. My PCP did this on one of mine. He wrote the script as one a day, but said I only needed to do half a day. He did it on purpose, to save me money on the co-pay. I'm paying one month co-pay for meds that will last two months, so half price. Hope that makes sense.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
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Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
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Post by georgiapea on Aug 16, 2015 21:12:48 GMT
You are to take one tablet, 2 times per day, spacing it out to morning and evening. If he wanted you to take only a half tablet, that is how the Rx would have been written.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 16, 2015 21:50:08 GMT
Taking a half pill is not a good idea. It makes dosing imprecise. My dog gets 1 3/4 pills 2x daily... Because the higher dose pill costs 4 x's as much!
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Post by Sassy Sabrina SWZ on Aug 16, 2015 21:55:21 GMT
If your doctor confirms that you are to take one-half pill, twice a day, there is an easy way to cut pills: a pill cutter. It's like a tiny guillotine in a small plastic box, and it can cut much more precisely than you could achieve with a knife. They range from about $3 to $6, and most pharmacies sell them. Some seem to be designed for small tablets.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 16, 2015 22:20:24 GMT
I have had the same instructions but it was done purposely....I was to take half a tablet twice daily, but the doctor was saving me money by giving me a two month supply for the price of one. If he did it as he prescribed the pharmacy would only give me a 30 day supply....so half the number of pills
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Aug 16, 2015 23:06:42 GMT
Taking a half pill is not a good idea. It makes dosing imprecise. Too bad my insurance company doesn't care about that. I take 100 mg of a drug at night, 150 of it in the morning. I get 100mg pills. It's cheaper that way than if they dispensed a larger quantity of 50mg pills.
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RosieKat
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Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Aug 17, 2015 0:34:59 GMT
Some meds would matter if you get 10.1 mg and 9.9 mg doses, others don't so much. My pharmacy is very good about letting me know if there is a problem with halving medications when that's been prescribed.
I agree with what others said on what those instructions mean. I just want to add that I'm glad you're following up on what is correct since there is a discrepancy between what you remember being said and what you're receiving. You're always the last one in charge of your health!
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 17, 2015 2:03:22 GMT
I read it as saying take one tablet two times a day so one in the morning and one at night. What are the other interpretations? The doctor wants me to take 1 tablet a day-- 1/2 in the morning 1/2 in the afternoon. Her words to me. The pharmacy is filling it for 60 pills not 30, which made me realize this month they interpreted what she wrote down as taking 2 per day. So I'm utterly confused, ha! Your doctor wrote the prescription wrong. She should have written take 1/2 pill, twice daily. You should receive 30 pills. I have a prescription where I take 1/2 pill, once daily. The prescription is for 15 pills.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 17, 2015 2:08:30 GMT
It's not a time releases so I assume I can cut it I'm half since she told me to? Which is an illogical way to make an assumption I'm sure, ha! If she told you to, it is probably fine! Given my recent experiences with some health professionals, I'd probably double-check and look up the exact medication on WebMD, or a similar site, to be sure it was okay. Or call the pharmacist we would easily be able to ask you if a pill can be split.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 17, 2015 2:09:45 GMT
I have had the same instructions but it was done purposely....I was to take half a tablet twice daily, but the doctor was saving me money by giving me a two month supply for the price of one. If he did it as he prescribed the pharmacy would only give me a 30 day supply....so half the number of pills That's also mislabeling and insurance fraud.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 17, 2015 2:09:45 GMT
I read it as saying take one tablet two times a day so one in the morning and one at night. What are the other interpretations? The doctor wants me to take 1 tablet a day-- 1/2 in the morning 1/2 in the afternoon. Her words to me. The pharmacy is filling it for 60 pills not 30, which made me realize this month they interpreted what she wrote down as taking 2 per day. So I'm utterly confused, ha! by what you wrote, I think the doctor wrote it wrong. The pharmacist is filling it the way it was written. If the doctor had wanted you to only take 1/2 tablet, they should have written that.
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Post by cannmom on Aug 17, 2015 2:21:38 GMT
One tablet twice a day. One tablet in the morning, one in the evening.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 17, 2015 3:01:51 GMT
I have had the same instructions but it was done purposely....I was to take half a tablet twice daily, but the doctor was saving me money by giving me a two month supply for the price of one. If he did it as he prescribed the pharmacy would only give me a 30 day supply....so half the number of pills That's also mislabeling and insurance fraud. Well, I have kaiser so I'm not sure it's really fraud.
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Mary Kay Lady
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Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Aug 18, 2015 5:51:19 GMT
as written I would take one pill in the morning and one pill in the evening. As verbal instructions I would take 1/2 a pill in the morning ahd half a pill in the evening. The doctor didn't write the same as the verbal instructions. I agree with this.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
Jul 12, 2014 21:58:10 GMT
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Post by pridemom on Aug 18, 2015 19:50:50 GMT
Why didn't the pharmacy check with the doctor?
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Post by leftturnonly on Aug 18, 2015 19:54:00 GMT
I read it as saying take one tablet two times a day so one in the morning and one at night. What are the other interpretations? The doctor wants me to take 1 tablet a day-- 1/2 in the morning 1/2 in the afternoon. Her words to me. The pharmacy is filling it for 60 pills not 30, which made me realize this month they interpreted what she wrote down as taking 2 per day. So I'm utterly confused, ha! Your Dr's instructions to the pharmacy weren't correct. One tablet by mouth twice daily means two pills a day, one pill early and one pill later. What your Dr. should have told the pharmacy was 1/2 pill twice a day, or 1 pill once a day with additional instructions to you to split the pill and space it out over the day.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,692
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Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Aug 18, 2015 20:39:04 GMT
Honestly, if my doctor wrote something that way (incorrectly) and then doesn't understand why there's confusion, I'd have serious hesitation about trusting my medical care/prescription management to her. I'd be looking for a new doctor. 1/2 tablet, twice a day written for 30 pills would be correct. 1 tablet, twice a day written for 60 pills would be correct. Huh? I said there was confusion amongst all three of us and I was calling tomorrow for clarification. I haven't even spoken to her yet. Perhaps she did intend for me to take 2 pills per day and I misunderstood? I'm not ready to throw her under the bus when I haven't even spoken to her. She's a phenomenal doctor who listens to me and all my other prescriptions make sense. Geez. Well really, she said if the doctor wrote it incorrectly and doesn't understand the confusion she'd have hesitation and THEN find a new doctor. If you haven't spoken to the doctor yet you don't know if it was written incorrectly or if there was a purpose OR if your doctor understands the confusion. I agree that IF the doctor wrote it wrong and didn't get it after speaking i'd probably be looking for a new doctor to avoid big mistakes in the future. I don't see anyone recommending throwing her under the bus without a discussion and clarification on the issue. The snotty Geez can be saved until later, it was really out of place here.
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Post by kimpossible on Aug 18, 2015 20:55:30 GMT
The Doctor definitely made a mistake with directions. I too would have interpreted that as 2 pills a day - not 1/2 pill twice a day.
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Post by Zee on Aug 18, 2015 21:01:46 GMT
This is why you never rely on "half a pill" as a dosage. You ask what milligrams and how often, and you write it down.
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Post by pivibird on Aug 18, 2015 22:48:56 GMT
What is the unit dose of the tablets ( mg)? For example did you doctor intend for you to take 1/2 of a 10 mg tablet? And the pharmacy dispensed 5 mg tablets?
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Post by *KAS* on Aug 18, 2015 22:49:44 GMT
Huh? I said there was confusion amongst all three of us and I was calling tomorrow for clarification. I haven't even spoken to her yet. Perhaps she did intend for me to take 2 pills per day and I misunderstood? I'm not ready to throw her under the bus when I haven't even spoken to her. She's a phenomenal doctor who listens to me and all my other prescriptions make sense. Geez. Well really, she said if the doctor wrote it incorrectly and doesn't understand the confusion she'd have hesitation and THEN find a new doctor. If you haven't spoken to the doctor yet you don't know if it was written incorrectly or if there was a purpose OR if your doctor understands the confusion. I agree that IF the doctor wrote it wrong and didn't get it after speaking i'd probably be looking for a new doctor to avoid big mistakes in the future. I don't see anyone recommending throwing her under the bus without a discussion and clarification on the issue. The snotty Geez can be saved until later, it was really out of place here. I didn't understand your irritation here either. You also said: Which indicated to me that you knew what the doctor wanted, which doesn't line up with what the prescription she wrote for you as everyone has agreed.
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