Suboxone’s manufacturer states that films and tablets shouldn’t be cut. But your doctor may recommend splitting your tablets or films to deliver a customized dose.
Suboxone film should not be cut and Suboxone tablets should not be split unless your doctor explicitly tells you to do so. Tampering with your medication can result in unintended — and dangerous — side effects.
When stopping Suboxone, you may want to wean off very slowly to prevent withdrawal symptoms or the return of cravings. For example, your doctor may tell you to take half of your daily strip for a week or two before discontinuing altogether. In this scenario, you may be cutting your strip in half.
While the manufacturer might not recommend this approach, films and tablets may come in dosing intervals that aren’t right for every patient.
These are a few reasons your doctor might recommend cutting your Suboxone doses:
Some doctors recommend using very small starting doses when using Suboxone for the first time.[1] They may recommend cutting a 4 mg strip in half in this situation to deliver a 2 mg dose. Again, Suboxone’s manufacturer does not recommend this, so only do so if your doctor advises.
Some people may need a dose that is slightly less or more than a 2 mg, 4 mg, or 8 mg standard strip. If someone needs a 12 mg dose, they might be instructed to cut a strip in half to achieve it.
Your doctor should help you understand how to split your doses properly. These steps may help:
Researchers compared four cut methods in a 2019 study and found that using a ruler and razor was the most effective way to ensure equal doses.[2] The ruler holds the strip steady, and the razor makes a clean cut.
If you don’t have a razor, using scissors works well. Ensure the scissors are clean and dry, so the strip does not get wet or sticky.
To cut a tablet in half, buy a pill splitter (like this one on Amazon), and use it only for Suboxone tablets. Label the splitter with a black marker and keep it with your pills. This tool allows you to cut your doses quickly and effectively, and the sharp blade protects tablets from crushing or fragmenting.
Manufacturers don’t recommend splitting film or tablets as the practice can have very serious consequences.[2] These are a few of them:
Suboxone tablets are hard to identify when they’re cut up, and partial strips may be attractive to curious children.[3] Full doses in their original containers are easier to keep track of.
Tablets can get crushed by dull tools. The powder can coat your cutting surface, and if you don’t remove it, the drug could get sprinkled on the next thing you place on that surface.
Some people cut their Suboxone films and tablets because they want to take more than their doctors recommend. If you’re tempted to misuse your medication, talk with your doctor immediately.
Even if you use the right tools, you may cut your doses slightly unevenly. If you take slightly more or less than one tablet/strip, you may get a little more or less than the manufacturer recommended, but these differences are extremely small. You likely won’t notice a difference.
Most doctors do not recommend cutting your Suboxone smaller than in half because it’s harder to cut tiny amounts properly. Try to cut the strip/tablet in half as accurately as possible.
If you’re not sure how to take Suboxone or manage your doses, speak with a Suboxone doctor. Get good advice on how much you should take to keep your opioid use disorder under control. And find out how to manage each dose just right to avoid relapse.
If you end up cutting your Suboxone tablet or strip to get the smaller dose recommended by your doctor, make sure to keep lines of communication open. If you experience any negative effects, talk to your doctor immediately.
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role of the brain dopamine system in substance use disorders and in aging. He also studies brain function in obesity and eating disorders.
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