to be such a pansy, why can't I do this?!

[RedKite1985]

Swallowing pills

I can swallow practically half a cheeseburger or chocolate but when it comes to a painkiller, nope!

Currently in agony with a trapped nerve. Have no way of crumbling up a pill as at work. Any tips on relaxing before doing this?!

[Mabelface]

Try taking it with milk.

[lougle]

Can you put it inside some cheese?

[CatsCantTwerk]

You need to put it on the front of your tongue and not the back then a large swig of water will wash it straight down.

[ItsTricky]

I was going to suggest putting it inside something too.. cheese or chocolate? Or put it in a handful of peanuts

[wednesdaysocks]

Do you have access to a kitchen- crush the pill between two spoons?

[Pippa12]

Will it dissolve? Sometimes they will in hot/boiling water?

[Hassled]

Can you snap the pills in half? I have a ridiculous gag reflex and my technique is to put half a pill at a time right at the back of my mouth, to the side of my tongue. Then massive gulp of water to force it down, tilting the head back as you gulp.

[Mrsjayy]

I have a ridiculous ritual for taking tablets i take it out put it on the worktop get a drink never water usually something fizzy fill the glass half full put the pill on my tongue few deep breaths first and then take a drink and swallow.

i know its bonkers but it is the only way i can take them I retch other wise

[Cornettoninja]

Under the tongue, massive mouthful of fizzy drink and throwing my head back works for me.

I've heard (but never tried) taking it on a spoonful of yoghurt. I'm not convinced but it might work for you.

[Mrsjayy]

Yeah at the front of your tongue not the back that is where the retch is

[Itsraininginbaltimore]

Use the dissolvable powders like Voltaratin, they are really easy to drink, taste nice and they work so fast.

I always take my massive horse pills vitamin supplements that are like bloody bullets with something thick like a smoothie or a protein shake - they slip down so much better than with just water and you don't get the awful aftertaste.

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

Break pill in half; swig a small mouthful of water but don't swallow; chuck half a pill in as far back in your mouth as possible; swallow it all down

[Itsraininginbaltimore]

Corn I think the spoonful of yoghurt would be the same principle as the smoothie - it definitely works!

[RedKite1985]

Hmm I have never tried front of tongue, all I know is that as soon as it goes in my mouth it feels like the size of a 50p coin!

[librarypictures]

Try popping it in a teaspoon of jam/ honey / chocolate spread etc. with a glass of water to wash it down.

[BlueKarou]

Milkshake always works the best for me; esp with larger pills. The flavour disguises the medicine taste and the thick liquid makes it easier for the pill to go down without making me gag. I used to be awful with pills and now I'm on 4 a day.

[ChippyMinton]

The trick is to take a swig of water FIRST and hold it in your mouth, pop the pill in and then swallow both.

I only found this out recently, and it's far easier than pill first then water.

[ChippyMinton]

You won't feel the pill as it's in the water not sitting on your tongue being all gigantic and dry

[grimbletart]

I used to be like this OP. Then someone told me that rather than taking a swig of water from a glass, take it from a bottle. It worked for me. I think it something to do with the way that you tend to gulp from a bottled rather than just swallow.

[emwithme]

I can't swallow pills the "standard" way. They just stick to my tongue or my cheek and make me gag and boak and puke.

However, since I've been ill, I've had to learn to take them. I do it "backwards", apparently, but it works for me.

I take a big mouthful of liquid (3/4 full mouth) then pop the pill in through the teeniest cats-bum mouth I can take, then swallow, then another mouthful of liquid to flush it down my throat properly. The pill doesn't get the chance to stick to anything because it kinda floats in the liquid that's already there.

If you're taking capsules, tilt your head forward (ie look at the floor)when you're doing this. If you're taking coated (or gak non-coated tablets), tilt your head back (look at the ceiling).

I can now actually manage to take 2 paracetamol, a codeine, a tramadol, and a GIANT vitamin supplement with less than a shot glass of water, if I have to.

[TiggyD]

Not supposed to break ?? s you know. They release their magic too fast.

I practiced with tiny sweet. Try tictacs.

[TiggyD]

break pills that is.

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I second filling your mouth with water first then popping the pill in. It's the oy way I can tolerate it. Yogurt sounds a good idea too

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

Only*

[HellKitty]

Don't throw your head back! Put your head forward and down to swallow. Sounds ridiculous but honestly is easier.