Is It OK to Cut Vitamins to Swallow Them More Easily?

A majority of Americans take dietary supplements — 75 percent of adults, according to survey data from the Council for Responsible Nutrition. That means plenty of us know that it can sometimes be a struggle to swallow supplements, which include vitamins.

When your pill is a bit too big, you might think that cutting it in half (or even crushing it) seems like the simplest solution. But whether that supplement will still be as effective in a broken form largely depends on the pill’s function and design.

Which Supplements Are Safe to Cut?

Generally speaking, supplements in tablet form may be cut in half without lowering their nutritional value, says Brittany Michels, RDN, with The Vitamin Shoppe.

Some supplements in capsule form may even be opened, she says, but it's best to ask your doctor or pharmacist first to be sure. “In fact, many clients who find difficulty swallowing pills will do this,” Michels says.

Supplements You Shouldn't Cut

There are two types of supplements that you should not try to size down: vitamins or minerals that have a time-release formula, and pills with an enteric coating like probiotic supplements.

1. Time-Release Supplements

These products are designed to slowly release vitamins or minerals throughout your body over a specific length of time. They’re also known extended-release, slow-release, delayed-release, and sustained-release supplements.

“For example, a popular time-release supplement is melatonin,” Michels says. “Those taking higher doses without success may try an extended-release option to slow absorption of this neurotransmitter and achieve optimal sleep levels.”

A time-release supplement often needs to stay intact in order for the desired purpose to be achieved, she says. “The outermost layer is designed to break down slower and/or to withstand stomach acid more so than other supplements.”

2. Supplements With Enteric Coating

Other supplements that should be swallowed whole are capsules made with an outer layer called enteric coating.

This layer helps prevent the supplement (or medicine) from being released until it reaches your small intestine, according to Clinicalinfo.HIV.gov.

Michels says that probiotics are likely to fall under this category. Probiotics include a variety of live microorganisms — mostly good bacteria — that help your body either digest food, destroy harmful cells, or produce vitamins.

“Many probiotics cannot survive the stomach acid and are lost by the time they make it to the intestinal tract,” she says. “So the enteric coating ensures they make it.”

Some common medications with enteric coatings include aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen, and omeprazole, according to a report in a medical journal.

The Bottom Line

As long as a vitamin or mineral supplement does not offer a time-release function and is not made with an enteric coating, it may be OK to crush, cut in half, or open, Michels says. But it’s always best to check with a healthcare professional first, she adds.

If you still have trouble swallowing tablets of any size, try coating your throat with water first, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Begin by taking a sip of H2O, then place the pill on the back of your tongue. Drink more water — up to 8 ounces (oz) — and keep swallowing.

Another option: Skip the tablets and capsules altogether. Most supplements on the market today offer powder, liquid, and chewable forms, Michels says.