I love my timespan. I can go to sleep at night and not worry. You absolutely should not break it apart, though. It is time release. I used to eat a banana with it just to be sure my stomach would be ok. In the beginning , my TS would last 9 hours.now, I'm good for 10 hours-that's post IVIG. Good luck!

Correction-my TS lasts 12hrs.
Be well,

Both my Dr and Pharmacist say it can be slit (not crushed) and that is why it is scored. When I argued that time releases are not supposed to be split I was told that is not true for scored one's. That said I tried it because I thought it might be 2 much at night. It was not strong enough at all. So I jumped to a whole after 1 night. It only took 1-2 nights to adjust, but I had been getting up every 4-5 hours to take 60 mg regular before that.Initially when I increased my regular at night it only took about 2 nights of twitches, which faded and now I have none and no side effects, can pop them in an empty stomach without even bothering to drink any liquids. I barely last 8 hours, must have next regular dose next to bed and take it before I get up

according to www.mestinon.com the answer appears to be not to break in half (or at least crush or into smaller pieces).

As with most timed release dosage forms, MESTINON Timespan should not be crushed or broken into pieces. A broken Timespan Tablet may disturb the timed release mechanism and could result in immediate release instead of slow release of the pyridostigmine bromide.

MESTINON Timespan Tablets contain 180 mg pyridostigmine bromide. Timespan Tablets are a slow release dosage form. In addition to pyridostigmine bromide, each Mestinon Timespan Tablet contains carnauba wax, corn-derived proteins, magnesium stearate, silica gel and tribasic calcium phosphate.

Uninformed opinion follows, so be careful!
If the pill is homogeneous throughout (rather than in layers of materials), half of a pill would probably work the same as the whole pill. In searching the internet, lots of folks do seem to use half pills OK. Crumbled or small pieces are definitely not a good idea. If you are really worried, just cut in half and drip one drop of candle wax on the broken edge ;-)

Linda and Bamboolilly,
I am so glad the Timespan is working for you. It lasts less than six hours for me even with food and wears off waking me with horrid cramps, the things Linda was afraid of. I can only use it if I will be awake to get my next dose of the regular on top of it. For example, if I wake up at 3 or 4 am when the nighttime regular wears off.
b.

I am going to try half tonight. I can't untake it if I take the whole thing. I am going to try to find some info on how the time release mechanism works. Will let you know how it works. Thanks all.

Linda,
I think it is made by layering the waxy coating. Curt made his own with parrafin and the regular Mestinon (pyridostigmine) because the Timespan was so expensive. I don't recommend that, but it worked for him! Of course he also taped his eyelids up so he could ride his motorcycle :-) b.

I take a half pill (scored type) which helps with the throat closing problem I experience at night. I have read that it is OK to split the scored tablets. In any case, I do.

I have also read that it is ok to split the scored tabs.

I tolerate my timespan well. It lasts 12 hours most nights, every once in a while I find I need my first 60mg Mestinon of the day about an hour earlier. I believe TJ has commented that he will occassionaly use it through the day also but I don't recall if he split it.
Hope you had a restful night.
Larissa ;)

I took the half tablet and did fine. It was great not having to wake up every three hours and I feel fine this morning!

Good that you found out 1/2 pill works! It makes sense that the pills wouldn't be scored to split if they weren't expected to be used that way.

Some half-baked quotations to celebrate the discovery:

"Half a loaf is better than none"

An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be"

"Half the lies they tell about me aren't true" Yogi Berra

The loveliest faces are to be seen by moonlight, when one sees half with the eye and half with the fancy

Russ, you crack me up! But I cut the pill on the score line and I could see no discernible layer of any coating on the outside of the pill or inside either.
From what I read from the manufacturer, the pill is made to release 60mg normally as if you took a regular mestinon, then the remaining 120mg over several hours.
If there were an outside coating, this would preclude the initial dose from being released immediately as the manufacturer states.
So it makes sense to me that the pill is made up of two or more compounds that are blended together in one pill. Each compound being dissolved at a different rate, thus, the sustained release component. Keep in mind, this is only my personal opinion, but one that makes sense to me.

I used to take part of the TimeSpan as well, but that ended up not being potent enough. I now take it with a regular 60mg 3x a day, but definitely dinner/late evening time to last me through the night.

Glad you got a good night's sleep! (:

I love my timespan... Before I could not sleep and I had to take Regular Mestinon every 3 hours... Now I take it at bedtime and when I wake up and I never have to worry about it.