I can’t swallow the capsules

[Thenthatsthatthen]

I feel so ridiculous writing this. I don’t usually have a problem taking medication but these new capsules the doctor has prescribed just won’t go down.
I’ve tried tipping my head toward and either the water goes down tablet doesn’t or I just seem incapable of swallowing at all. Has anyone got any other tried and tested methods to make the capsules go down? Is it just a case of keep trying?

• Tipping my head forward even

Could try using a mouthful of yoghurt instead of a mouthful of water, if there's no contraindication.

Try drinking through a straw. That usually works when other things fail. And have a drink of water before you take a capsule as well as after, sometimes the capsule can ‘stick’ in a dry mouth.

Drink from a bottle.

Fizzy drink, milk, yoghurt, or juice. Something essentially "thicker" than water.

I can only take my huge vitamin tablets with milk, not water.

Contact your pharmacist there might be another way.

Eat something like a grape , chew until you are ready to swallow and then throw the pill in and swallow .

Check with the pharmacist, but some capsules can be opened up and mixed in with jam and eaten that way. Some though have a special enteric coating, so it gets absorbed after the stomache. The packaging would advise NOT opening the capsule in this case though.

Maybe a silly question but can they be cut in half? The pharmacy had pill cutters so it's easier

@GloGirl

Contact your pharmacist there might be another way.

That's the way Id go

Tip your head backward rather than forward?

How are you usually with taking tablets?

Phone the chemist and ask the pharmacist if they can be cut or crushed or if they can resupply as a liquid.

@ThePricklySheepi manage to take 4 other tablets daily no issues. For some reason I think the fact it’s a capsule is throwing me off. DP is off to go food shopping so I have told him to pick up yogurt and something fizzy to try those methods.
Id so embarrassed calling the pharmacist because I can’t swallow them so will try everything else first.

Ah that’s a shame because you may be able to just open it up and stir it through yoghurt. But you need to check.

I wouldn't be embarrassed about it… pharmacists exist in part to help people take the medications that the doctors prescribe. Getting the bastard things into your body is part of that, and a totally routine discussion for them to have.

Try a thicker fluid like milk, put the fluid in your mouth first then pop the capsule in and turn your head to the left slightly when you swallow!
Sounds barking I know but all of these things helped my husband when he had a tablet issue 🙂

I take tablets with food, whatever I’m eating but bread is good, chew til you are ready to swallow then chuck it in and swallow together

I’m the same OP. I’ve recently been using (shop brought) apple sauce. Some on a teaspoon, stick the capsule on it and try and swallow. I still ‘swish’ the pill in my mouth but it’s helped me a lot.

Spoonful of ice cream. Bury the capsule in it.
(Assuming no good reason why shouldn’t. )

The trick is to rotate your head 90 degrees as if you are looking over your shoulder and tip your head slightly back. Swallow a little bit of water first to lubricate your throat. Then make sure you have plenty (but not too much!) water in your mouth when you swallow, making sure to keep your head tipped back.

When my DD had to swallow capsules the only thing that worked was to take it with a spoonful of Nutella.Yogurt was too thin for her, but the gloopy consistency of Nutella worked. Once she had done it a few times, she was able to gradually reduce the amount of Nutella she needed until it was no longer required.

Ask if it's ok to open the capsules. If it is then open and sprinkle on yoghurt. I had to do this with my DS as he won't swallow tablets at all.

Well I had (somewhat) success with the fizzy drink. I did end up biting the capsule but I think it was pretty much in one piece when swallowed. Nearly made myself sick though so going have to come up with something better for the next 3 months I’m hoping I’ll get better with practise. Although I’m liking the Nutella idea.

I put my drink in first, then put the tablet in and swallow as hard as I can.

Stick it just under your tongue, massive glug of water to knock it back, and raise your right arm as if doing a sort of Nazi salute.

Pro tip: don't do it at your kitchen window for all the neighbours to watch like I did.