Error or Not an Error???

Nurses Medications

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I am hoping that someone can tell me if it is okay to cut a Lunesta in half ? There was a huge argument about it at work this weekend. My co-worker had an order for Lunesta 3mg, and there was only 2mg available.She cut one of the 2mg in half to make the 3mg. When she asked me what I thought, I told her that I really wasn't sure to call the doctor or pharmacist.The doctor said to cut it. The DON threw a fit!!! The Lunesta website really has no information pertaining to cutting the tablet in half. One pharmacist I spoke with said "No", one said "It doesn't matter one way or another". What's your opinion??:confused:

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

is it scored ? if it is scored you can cut it half...

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It is not scored.

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Specializes in Second Year LVN Alzheimers Nursing.

Lunesta is not scored, and if it was when you cut a 3mg pill in half that would have been 1.5mg. In my opnion that would have been a medication error and as a DON I would have had a fit as well. :banghead: What she should have done is got a one time order for 3mg untill the 2mg was avail.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

Emerald: The post said they cut the 2mg tab in half and then used that half plus another 2mg to equal 3 mg total.

OP: If there is that much discrepancy about cutting or not from pharmacists and MD and med reference resources, it mustn't be too big of a deal. Lunesta isn't extended release is it? I can think of an example at my work, 25 mg Seroquel tabs. Tabs are NOT SCORED but when we have a pt that needs 12.5 mgs the pharmacy does cut the 25 mgs to send us the 12.5 dosage.

:trout:

Lunesta is not scored, and if it was when you cut a 3mg pill in half that would have been 1.5mg. In my opnion that would have been a medication error and as a DON I would have had a fit as well. :banghead: What she should have done is got a one time order for 3mg untill the 2mg was avail.
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Specializes in LTC, Urgent Care.

Does your facility have a policy about cutting meds in half? I worked at one where they would not allow us to cut meds in half.

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I think Lunesta is actually extended release. I've seen those commercials that talk about helping you get to sleep, and then helping you stay asleep. That says extended release to me.....

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Lunesta is not an extended release medication, and in fact, is rapidly absorbed, i.e. 1-2 hours.

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Specializes in LTC.

Doesn't your pharmacy provide you with a list of meds NOT TO BE CRUSHED/CUT??

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Specializes in Geri, psych, TCU, neuro--AKA LTC.

If the MD told you to cut it in half, if it's an error, it's the MD's error.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
If the MD told you to cut it in half, if it's an error, it's the MD's error.

Only if you realize it's an error. Otherwise, if you follow the order and the order is in error, it's your butt, not the doc's. The nurse is responsible for knowing all about each of the meds she gives.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

The orginal post said the person cut a 2 mg tablet in half which last time I looked equaled 1, that with 2 mg would equal 3 mg. It disturbs me greatly when people do not fully read what someone has posted,

As to whether or not it can be cut in half was the question. In regards to that I am not sure. I would go by what your pharmacist recommends.

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