What does it mean when a tablet is scored?

• A. Groove to break
• B. Dissolve in mouth for effect to mouth/throat
• C. Placed between gum and cheek to dissolve
• D. Multi-layer that dissolve at a different rate, can have spansules, uses diffusion, dissolution, osmotic systems. Ex. Plateau caps, Sequels, Extentabe, Repetabs

Answer: (A)

Scoring on a tablet means there’s a shallow groove down the middle so the tablet can be split into equal portions. This helps when a smaller dose is needed or when a patient has difficulty taking a full-strength tablet. The groove is a manufacturing cue for breaking the tablet, not a hint about how it should dissolve or where it should be placed in the mouth. The other ideas describe different ways a medicine can be released or absorbed (dissolving in the mouth for rapid effect, placing between the gum and cheek for buccal absorption, or complex multi-layer release mechanisms), which are unrelated to the purpose of a score line. Split tablets only if the product labeling or guidance from a healthcare professional allows it, since some tablets should not be split due to coating or extended-release design.