A device for dispensing active ingredient-containing or active ingredient-carrying strips, including a housing in which a coil chamber for receiving an active ingredient-containing or active ingredient-carrying band is arranged, in which a gear transmission with a driven roller for conveying the band is mounted, and in which a separating device for separating the strips from the band is arranged. A method for dispensing active ingredient-containing or active ingredient carrying strips using such a device is also disclosed. An active ingredient-containing or active ingredient-carrying band is arranged between the driven roller and the pressure roller. A shift clutch transmission having a manually actuatable trigger element is arranged upstream of the gear transmission. The driven roller can be driven in incremental strips by the shift clutch transmission. A device and method is disclosed for dispensing active ingredient-containing or active ingredient-carrying strips with a largely equal dosage are developed.