I'm having trouble swallowing pills.Can anybody offer me some techniques that have worked?Thanks!?

Answer 1

Rest assured that many young adults and some not-so-young adults share your problem. It's understandably strange to swallow a solid substance without chewing; it can seem against natural reflexes (not to mention, against table manners). Nonetheless, when it comes to medication, pills are extremely convenient and very much the norm. There is no cure-all for this challenge; different people use different strategies for different reasons. There are, however, liquid, powder, and even suppository forms of medications, herbs, and other healers; a chat with a pharmacist might be the best way to help the medicine go down.

But, since pill swallowing will likely remain part of your health plan from time to time, check out this physiology factoid: because of the epiglottis, the vocal fold closure that covers the larynx or voice box, it is physically impossible to inhale a pill. So, don't even worry about that happening.

You can approach pill swallowing from several angles. A number of handy tips, including some old tricks, some new ones, and some you've already tested, for trying to get those tablets, gel caps, or capsules down are listed in the table below:

Practice foods
Swallow mini candies, or small bites of food, without chewing to simulate pill taking.
Embed a tablet in food and consume both together. IMPORTANT: Some prescription drugs are affected by certain foods, so check with your health care provider before trying this one.

Helpful liquids
Sip a cold, carbonated beverage (sparkling water, lemon-lime soda) straight from the bottle when swallowing a pill.
Spray or gargle with an over-the-counter topical anesthetic (normally used for sore throats) before swallowing.

Different techniques
Take a deep breath before putting the tablet in your mouth; some say that this can suppress gag reflexes.
Place the pill on the back of your tongue, drink some water, tilt your chin down toward your chest, and swallow.
Put the pill on the tip of your tongue, drink some water, tilt your head back, and swallow.

Combining some of the above ideas could yield a remedy for you, but if none of them help, it's time to consider some larger issues.

The fact is your throat is one part of your body, so it operates as part of a complex system. If you're tense about pill swallowing, that tension will most certainly surface when you try to swallow a pill. While it may seem as if you have an extraordinarily strong gag reflex or odd throat mannerisms, consider that it may actually be the power of your mind, not the power of your throat. Try to psych yourself out with this pill swallowing mantra — "I can swallow this." "I can see the pill going down."

Or, perhaps not being able to swallow tablets has something to do with a past event? Did you choke on a peach pit many years ago? Has a school nurse with dirty hands forced you to take a pill? Subconsciously, you may be dealing with issues such as these every time you try to swallow an aspirin or vitamin. Fear of choking, fear of medicine, or general anxiety may be preventing you from swallowing pills. If you think these mental factors are to blame, you might consider talking with a counselor.

While it seems unlikely, the possibility of a greater medical issue does exist. The medical term for difficulty swallowing is dysphagia, and the term is often used with regard to a disorder of the esophagus. At your next check-up, talk with your provider about your difficulty swallowing pills. Keep in mind, though, that if you can swallow your food without trouble, your esophagus is probably fine.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I used to have this problem. It took me lots and lots of practice. I used to crush up the pills sometime.

Good Luck! :)

here i found this interesting article...

Trouble Swallowing Pills

If you hate swallowing pills and struggle every time you have to take a pill, rest assured that you are not alone! There are as many tips as there are people who have, and have overcome, this problem. Your anxiety about the situation is only making it worse. Discussing your problem with your doctor and your pharmacist might help. While your prescription may not come in a chewable form, it may come in a suppository, liquid, powder, sprinkle, sublingual, nasal spray, injectable, or patch form. There may be another medication that is similar, would work just as well for your problem, and comes in an alternate dosing form. Your pharmacist may be able to prepare a special formulation for you.

Accept that swallowing pills is a skill that takes practice. It’s not natural for our bodies to swallow a solid substance without chewing it first. You may want to practice with a small, benign pill substitute like mini-M & M’s, then work up to regular sized M & M’s. Another option might be to embed the pill in some form of food (e.g. Jell-O or ice cream) and swallow both together. Try having some water in your mouth first and then inserting and swallowing the pill. Alternately, chew 2-3 crackers and then try swallowing the pill. Some people recommend sipping a cold, carbonated beverage straight from the bottle or can when swallowing a pill. Others have found success by spraying an over-the-counter topical anesthetic such as Chloraseptic® before trying to swallow a pill. And finally, try placing the pill on the back of your tongue, drinking some water, tilting your chin down toward your chest, and then trying to swallow. Good luck!

Answer 4

First thing is to check the medication to see if you can crush it or empty the capsule. Some medications MUST be swallowed whole. If you cannot crush or empty try wetting your mouth first, place the pill as far back on the tongue as you can, take a large mouthful of water and try to get the pill to sort of "float" then swallow the whole gulp of water and pill. You will need to try to relax first and be confidant that you can do it. I work in a jail setting and I have an inmate that takes 11 large pills of different types, swallows the whole pile at once!

Answer 5

i used to have this problem too.try swallowing smarties.if you practice with them.what i found worked was just to put a small amount of water in you mouth with the tablet or smartie and go for it.sounds easier said than done i know when thats the problem.what happens is your muscles contract when you go to do it.this usually happens after a big build up.if you just put the smartie in your mouth with somee water and imedetely swallow.it might take awhile to get there but if you do it a few times the fear will wear off.keep in mind its an irrational fear.good luck

Answer 6

#1
stand on your head
imagine it's candy
your favorite flavor
see your school days bully
he's coming closer
finish the candy or
he'll steal it
it sticks in your throat
but at least it's
yours.
wash it down with tomato juice
no
seriously
tomato juice.
that juice is so fleshy it'll carry anything with it
now you can return
to standing on your feet


#2 imagine you are in prison
you have contra ban pills
they are doing a surprise raid on cells
you know if you swallow this much you'll be OK
you gun them down
the only water around is your
saliva
so you swallow a hefty gob of that too

3#
use your imagination
you are importing personal use
illegal drugs through customs
its strip search time
......

Answer 7

i hate pill s but i have to take em, here r soem tips
(1) fill your mouth with water or juice and drop the tablets in and jsut swallow. most people put the pill in their tongue forst then wash it down with water but you get to tast the bitterness of the pill that way and thats kinda gross so put water in our mouth first then drop the pill
(2) if you must put the pill first then put it on the tip of your tongue and you are least likely to taste the bitterness because the taste buds on the tip of your tongue recognizes sweet and the ones on your side recognises sour and the one son the back recognises bitter . so it easier that way
(3) if the pills are very big (like vitamin pills or antiboitics) you can actually break em in half and try to take em one by one with some juice or crush them up and put them in a tea spoon of jelly and you are unliekly to taste it .
hope that was helpful

Answer 8

Put the pill in the back of your tongue, near your throat, and FILL your mouth with water or juice. At first the pill might float in the juice but it won't stay in your mouth.
You'll get used to it, and then it won't even float around, you'll swallow right away.
Eventually you won't need to fill your mouth anymore.

Answer 9

Hi, I've had the same problem untill recently when I had to go to the dentist for a root canal and then he gave me pain killers to take but I said I can't swallow it just doesn't go down, and I tried, and suprisingly it went down. Then aftwards when I tried taking pills I just let it go to the back of my mouth and when I drink water I pictured it going down and it worked it went do. You just have to control your mind and tell it to go down then it will go. Try not to let it get stuck to the roof of your mouth.
Good Luck!

Answer 10

if your pills are coated, put them in your mouth and swirl them around for a few seconds so your saliva will get them smooth, then you drink water or something and just swallow them that way.

i used to have the problem with swallowing, but i tried that and it works great