I had heard nothing but good things about the Deluxe Pill Splitter by Apex Healthcare so, when I had to split pills in half every day, I immediately purchased one especially after my pharmacist recommended it. This little device is easy to use and safe and it does split my pills into two. But not always into two HALVES. My pills are very small, scored, and possibly a bit softer than the norm. Often they will end up powder or split into 3/4 and 1/4 or a variation thereof. If I work really hard and snap the lid fast with the score of the pill lined up, I can get a decent split. Still, I can't find anything better so I keep using this one.

About the Product

This pill slitter is made of clear plastic and is rectangular. The top is hinged. Inside is a V shaped rubber piece where a pill should be placed. On the inside of the hinged lid is a small but sharp blade. When you place the pill against the rubber V and shut the top, it splits the pill into two. In most cases, apparently, the pill is evenly split into halves. Many sizes of pills can be accommodated by this pill splitter as the V shape of the rubber allows almost any sized pill to fit snugly between the bumpers so that the blade can then split it. It is very simple to use and there is very little chance of anyone, even a child, getting cut because the blade recesses until the top is closed. Still, I wouldn't advise leaving this product out where small children could get to it. Anything with any sort of blade can always be dangerous because kids always seem to find a way to make it so!

Just one pill can be split at time. There is an area at the bottom of the splitter, a reservoir so to speak, to hold the pills that were split so you can do 10 or 12 of them and leave them in the case or pour them into a bottle.

My Experience

I actually own two Apex Deluxe Pill Splitters and the color of the rubber pieces are different. One is blue and one is an orange color. But they are exactly the same otherwise.

I was prescribed a medication that's lowest dose is 10 mg. But I only need to take 5 mg. Obviously I needed something to help me split the pills. The pills I have are very small but they are scored on one side. They are also a bit soft - softer than many pills I have taken.

I bought my first pill splitter on the recommendation of my pharmacist who felt it would do the job quickly and inexpensively. Indeed, these splitters are inexpensive at only about 5.00 to $6.00. They do make a slightly different version called the Ultra Pill Splitter which is rounded at the end and just slightly different from the Deluxe but both work the same way. Both of mine are the Deluxe version.

I took my first pill and centered it between the rubber bumpers. This pill was so small that it fit all the way up to the top of the V. When the pill was properly placed. I simply closed the hinged top and the blade cut through the pill and gave me two cleanly cut pieces. But they weren't exact halves. It looked like one side was slightly bigger than the other.

I did this several times and only got a perfect split a few times. Most of the time, I ended up getting lopsided halves. This isn't a HUGE issue as the prescription is inexpensive and I explained to my doctor that I had some trouble getting the halves right so he prescribes extras.

I also just take a larger half and remove a little bit and put that small bit with the smaller half.

But because I was having issues, I decided to buy a second Apex Deluxe Pill Splitter. I thought maybe the blade was dull in my first one. The new one has the orange rubber, the first has the blue.

Unfortunately, I have been getting the same inconsistent results with the new splitter. If I am super careful and line the little pill exactly with the score vertical and if I shut the lid fast without hesitation, I sometimes get perfect halves. I love when that happens. If, however, I just stick the pill into the rubber holder and shut the lid, I will get two different sized "halves" and sometimes one side will turn to powder.

I have tried this splitter with a larger pill and it worked beautifully. I think my pills are just too small and too soft to split perfectly in the unit. The problem is, other similar units are all the same that I can see. I asked my pharmacist and he said they all work on the same basic principal and I could try a different one but the Apex is by far the most popular and generally most accurate manual pill splitter around.

There may be an expensive gadget that I can buy to split these tiny pills into exact halves but I haven't looked. The Apex is OK. I take my time and line up the pill and, when I get uneven halves, I adjust them so that they are more or less even. Luckily this medication is not one that it is imperative that I get the exact amount each day. If I take 4 mg one day and 6 mg the next, there's no harm done at all so I am not worried about the exact sizes of the halves. I don't like when one side turns to dust though. It's wasteful.

My son recently was prescribed medication for kidney stones and he used the pill splitter for his oblong pills. To my surprise, it worked perfectly for them. He got exact halves without a score on the pill.

It is for this reason, that I truly believe this pill splitter will work for almost anyone. I just think my prescription pill is too small and too soft to be split into exact haves by this unit. Or maybe any unit.

This little unit is very durable and the blade stays sharp. I have not had any issues with cracking or with the mechanism that cuts the pills. I still have both of my splitters and they both work the same. I just use whichever one I pick up from my medicine box.

Buying Info

You can purchase the Deluxe Pill Splitter by Apex Healthcare at drugstores and mass-market stores on and offline. It's inexpensive at around $5.00 to $6.00 and comes carded and usually hanging on a rack.

The Verdict

I think this product is innovative and super easy to use as well as safe. I also think that people with slightly larger than tiny pills will have no issues getting their pills split into even halves. However, if you have very small pills to split, you may run into the same issues I have. I still use this unit every day and I do waste some halves but, in all, it's a lot easier than trying to cut each little pill with a blade or knife or seeking out some mega expensive unit that probably won't do the job any better. I have to with 3 stars based on my experience though. After all, if getting the exact dose were very important, I may be in trouble. Luckily, as I said, if the dose is off my a little bit, it does no harm. I recommend this unit but do warn that small and softer pills may not split into even halves every time. 

Recommended: Yes