I am prescribed several medications, and the dosages are always subject to change as my doctor sees fit. When I am to take less of a medication, in order to conserve what I have, I will often cut pills in half using what is known as a pill cutter. A pill cutter is a small, hinged, mostly plastic device housing a typical razor blade. When used properly, one places a non-capsulated medication in the cutter, and squeezes until the pill is broken in two by the razor. The little guillotine works well for this purpose.
I'm sure many pharmacies are stocked with pill cutters, but most recently, I did some light research at a Walgreens. Whisking by aisles of mixed nuts, roasted so many ways, and cases of diet soft drinks masquerading as bottled waters, and a variety of flavors of condom, one finds himself near the pharmacy window and a display automatic-massage chair. The pill cutter is grouped with pill boxes, none too decorative, as they can even be ornate. Hard plastic full-month, weekly, or daily schedulers for medication ingestion are on display with the cutter. It only costs a couple of dollars, and it can mean a lot to be in ownership of a cutter when your prescriptions require a compartmented box to keep your days and weeks straight.
I am in ownership of a cutter, and I have examined it thoroughly. It seems like it would be fairly easy to disassemble the contraption, or that it could break apart from misuse. And, it appears the razor blade component could easily be separated from the device. In the case of paint chippers, or Exacto-knives, sure, blades need to be replaced and should easily come loose. Not much more than a pair of decent pliers, or a heavy glass drink tumbler could be used to pry the blade free, or smash the cutter apart, respectively.
So what? Well, with the number of patients prescribed for depression medication climbing in this nation, many of these depressed patients might find themselves in possession of an easily attainable razor-sharp razorblade. I remember turning the cutter over in my hands at a particularly low time, realizing every other free cutting edge in the house was serrated or dulled. What's more, the device is called a "pill cutter." To point out the mild irony, disassembly and self infliction of a fatal wound could definitely "cut" out the need for "pills" in one's life. This is all I mean to say on the subject of the pill cutter. A useful device, yes. Aptly named in more ways than are immediately obvious, perhaps.
