This is a simple way for many to cut their medication costs.

Difficulty Level: Average      Time Required: 30 minutes

1. Check with your pharmacist if your medication is available in a dose double what you currently take (i.e. if you take 20 mg pills, are 40 mg pills available).
2. Do a cost comparison between the two. In most cases, the higher dose pill will be only slightly more expensive. If it is anything less than double the cost, you will save money by pill splitting.
3. Inform your doctor of what you would like to do and ask him to prescribe you the higher dose pill. ALWAYS check with your doctor before using this method. It is not appropriate for all medications.
4. Obtain a pill splitter from your local pharmacy and cut the pills in two. Take half a pill per day. Capsules may be emptied into a glass of juice and split by drinking half each day.
   

1. Due to olanzapine's (brand name Zyprexa) coating, split pills must be used within seven days.
2. Pill splitting may not be appropriate for those with poor eyesight, impaired dexterity, or diminished cognition.
3. ALWAYS check with your physician before using this method. Some medications require exact dosages or have a special coating which affects their pharmacology.
   

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