[Dj Cuz]

I have a pinched nerve in my back from a wreck that is persistently painful and accompanied by numbness and tingling.It got worse and the numbness spread to my left hand and fingers.I have a prescription for oxycontin 40mg,but taking the whole pill is too strong.Today I broke it in half and took half,but I heard you weren't supposed to take it broken.It worked well and wasn't too strong,Is this safe?

[The Un-Cola]

They aren't supposed to be broken because they may release the entire dose all at the same time. If you want to take less see if you can get a prescription for 20mg and if you need 40mg you can take 2.

[dymond]

No- because once broken it is no longer sustained release.You will be getting to much medication to fast and it wont last as long.

[Crouching F150]

Once you break the Oxycontin tablet, you are at risk of immediate release of an oxycodone dose which may have very deleterious effects, including respiratory failure, so from the medical standpoint, you mustn't break the tablet in any way. In practical terms, if you break it cleanly into 2 parts, you should still be okay, so long as you refrain from crushing it into very small parts.

[WstCotter G]

It's fine. As a general rule NEVER take more of a pain reliever than is ABSOLUTELY required to relieve the pain. I concur that you should get with the doc and tell them what you did and request your dosage be reduced.

[hyphy guy]

dude you could sell those to people standing outside 7-11