Cant swallow tablets

outlaw777

Hey whats the best advice to give someone if they cant swallow tablets but they really need to start?

charlie792

outlaw777 wrote: »

Hey whats the best advice to give someone if they cant swallow tablets but they really need to start?

Not very practical advice but keep trying it....

I used to be the same, taking tablets used to make me gag and I just couldn't get them down.

I think I started trying to take them with different liquids, apple juice, coffee etc and I found some things wern't so bad. Eventually I just started doing it normally and don't have a problem anymore

emg

I find the best way is to tuck your chin down towards your chest rather than put your head back. This way you are covering your airways so physically, the tablet can't 'go down the wrong way'. It sounds counter-intuitive to lower your head rather than stretch it backwards but it really works and makes the tablets easier to swallow.

ariba10

Could you perhaps crush them and take them with a liquid of your choice?

lynseydee

I used to find it difficult swallowing tablets but that was if I put the tablet in my mouth and then took a swig of drink. I now find it easier if I take a big mouthful of drink first and then push the tablet in my mouth and then just take a big gulp. I find I have more control over the tablet in my mouth doing it this way. The other way used to put me off as I found it difficult to swallow and then got that bitter taste.

dmg24

ariba10 wrote: »

Could you perhaps crush them and take them with a liquid of your choice?

Without knowing what medication the OP needs to take, that could be very dangerous advice. Some medications can be toxic if taken incorrectly.

annie_d

Many tablets ARE available as an elixir so be sure ask your GP if it's at all possible. Pharmacies will make up the prescription as a "special" if needs be.

Torry_Quine

ariba10 wrote: »

Could you perhaps crush them and take them with a liquid of your choice?

You must check first as not all drugs can be crushed. Try taking with a spoonful of yoghurt.

ariba10

dmg24 wrote: »

Without knowing what medication the OP needs to take, that could be very dangerous advice. Some medications can be toxic if taken incorrectly.

Dissolved in a glass or dissolved in the stomach, not a lot of difference.

Phils_debt

I havnt been able to swallow tablets for 31 years then one day had a can of coke and i put the tablet in my mouth followed by the coke and the bubbles (fizziness) made it float so i swallowed it down easy peasy .
Everytime i now do same and it works everytime

CupOfChai

ariba10 wrote: »

Could you perhaps crush them and take them with a liquid of your choice?

Absolutely do not crush your tablets unless advised to by a medical professional. Doing this could actually kill you. Don't bite, chew, suck or leave them in your mouth for a while before swallowing either, again unless advised to do so.

What I found helpful is when I read some advice to not think about swallowing the tablet. So now as I'm about to swallow, I sing a song in my head while I do, so that I'm forced to be thinking of that and not of the tablet going down. It sounds daft but it really worked for me!

ETA there IS a lot of difference between tablets dissolved in the stomach and in a glass. Some tablets are designed as "slow release" over a period of hours, and by crushing them you will speed up the release of the drug potentially to dangerous effect (aforementioned incidence of death, due to accidental overdose from doing this). Some tablets in fact are designed not to dissolve in your stomach at all, but in other parts of your digestive system.

(I used to work till recently at a pharmaceutical lab).