Can't break in half

[Eve]

About a week ago when I went to the pharmacist I received Methylin, rather than Methylphenidate. While I'm not sure I like Methylin all that much, I have discovered that the pills are extremely hard to break in half. Ouch, my thumb hurts really bad from repetitive trys. Grrr... I have also tried using a knife and in this case I end up with about 4 or five pieces. Has anyone else had this problem or found a solution to it?

Also anyone have any clues as to why it would they one kind would be really really hard and the other far more softer? Plus the Methylin has kind of a funky scent.

[jaimegerise]

Is the pill scored? Usually if it's not, then it's not meant to be cut for various reasons...BUT that's different for different meds....

I bought a little pill cutter for about 2 bucks at WalMart here once and it halves pills perfectly!

[paulbf]

Is that time released like concerta?

[Eve]

Good idea about the pill cutter!

No it's not concerta, I've had that before, but it didn't work well for me. It is Methylin (methyliphenidate) 20 mg pills, just the regular kind. I've been on methlypheidate for quite a while now. It is scored, so I can't understand why one would be hareder than the other, since they are the same thing.

[Gregster]

The pill cutter is the way to go. Pills are made in a press and mostly contain filler - talc, coloring agents, etc. Different fillers combined with different presses could easily explain why one pill is harder than the other.

[KMiller]

If my search was correct, Methylin is basically a chewable form of Ritalin? If so, that could have something to do with it...but I don't think that makes much sense - a chewable should be easier to break than not.

[Eve]

You are so right that a chewable should be way easier to break. However, I am not on the chewable form. If I'm correct the FDA just approved that not to long ago. I think I better ask my pharmacist. Plus it does not seem to be working very well, maybe it's a B.

Thank you everyone for your replies!

[Eve]

I did notice though when trying to do a search about it I almost always came up with the chewable. There should be a huge list out there that lists all drugs of the same active ingredient, so you can compare them. It should also tell what theraputic qualities it has and it's rating. Oh and it should have the inactive ingredients listed also.