Cut to the Chase About Whether It’s Okay to Cut Patches

March 2025

Dangerous errors with transdermal patches are still occurring...often due to mistakenly cutting them.

Recently, a child’s clonidine patch was accidentally cut in half...to provide a lower dose. The child experienced clonidine toxicity (bradycardia, somnolence, unresponsiveness)...but fortunately recovered.

Know which patches can and canNOT be cut. Most should NEVER be cut...since they release a constant amount of drug over time. Cutting may cause the drug to release too fast...which could lead to an overdose.

Get concise, unbiased advice for effective drug therapy, plus CE/CME

Prescriber Insights: APRN includes:

  • Cutting-edge advice about new medications and how they fit into practice
  • Unbiased, evidence-based, 100% free of financial support from the pharma industry written by your peers
  • Side-by-side comparisons of drugs by class or disease state, plus FAQs, pros/cons, and simple recommendations

Already a subscriber? Log in

Volume pricing available. Get a quote