What do you do if you need to take medication when you are out?

[Chilliandrice24]

I know it’s a daft question but I usually take my meds in the morning and the evening. What do you do if you are out with a crowd of people? Do you go off to the toilets to do it surreptitiously or do you just do it in front of people? Not so bad if you’re at a meal but what if you’re in the theatre or something? I’ve never seen anyone take tablets when they are out!

I’d just take them. Wouldn’t enter my head to do otherwise.

I’ve never seen anyone take tablets when they are out!

Really? Not even a couple of paracetamol?

I would just nip off to the loo. Not because there is anything "wrong" with taking a tablet in public, but simply to avoid nosy people asking "what's that for then?" Not that I would have any issue with saying "to control my blood pressure" but I appreciate that some people might not want to disclose their medical details to a group of friends.

Performative tablet takers should definitely be banished to the loo - my mum used to throw back her head like a sword swallower and throw in the tablets 😅

I just take them. I'm pretty good at doing it discreetly but not bothered if anyone notices. If I need my inhaler I'll generally go outside or to the loos as I need to concentrate on breathing properly.

I'm a type 1 diabetic so have to give myself an injection before I eat. I can do it discreetly at the table - it's no big deal. I usually inject my stomach which is below the table line and can even inject through clothing into my thigh.
How many meds are you talking about? One or two pills can be done without fuss and barely anyone noticing (you don't have to do that dramatic throwing the head back like they do on TV). A whole cocktail of pills you might want to go to the loo unless you want questions.

I just take them, no one had ever questioned

Just take them. My son is diabetic, I'll be dammed if I have to take him to some dirty toilets to inject him.
Had a few dirty looks while doing injections but I don't care.

I’ve never seen anyone take tablets when they are out!

I think this just goes to show how little people around you would notice.

If it's tablets I just take them at the table. I wouldn't want to scurry off to the loo to take tablets as I think it's a bit grim drinking in the toilets (but I accept that I have issues re paranoia about germs).

You can take a couple of tablets out of a packet quite discretely with your hands in your lap and then just chuck them in your mouth and have a drink. It's not that noticeable.

If you take them out of their noisy crinkly blister pack and keep them in something else it won't rustle as much when you take them at the table. I generally wrap in a tissue and keep in the phone but of my bag so they don't get crushed or broken and only if I don't have a lot of stuff in there to bash them.

Id bring them out and have them in my lap and just take when nobody's looking.

I take pills four times a day and just take them when I need to. I've been taking codeine for a couple of years now for a slipped disc and need to eat something so they don't make me feel sick, so I always carry a couple of biscuits or half a sandwich with me if I'm going to be out or in a meeting, and take them when I need to. It would never occur to me to leave the room or to try to hide that I'm taking them.

Just take them. I normally have them in a little tub so I know I'm taking all the pills in the box at once, and it's really quick - not much more noticeable than having a drink. I also use my inhaler wherever I need it.

My son has Type 1 diabetes so I have had years of doing Fingerprick blood tests and insulin injections on park benches / cafe tables / chairs in museums / anywhere we could find a semi-private corner and a stable surface.

People are much more absorbed in themselves than you realise!

There's a reason you've never noticed anyone taking tablets, and it's not because they don't. Chuck 'em in and wash 'em down, nobody will be interested in someone having a drink.

My late MIL had advanced Parkinson’s and was on loads of tablets each day, on very strict timings as well. When we were out for the day she would just take her tablets as and when required and sometimes she would struggle to get them down, no one in a cafe or a garden centre or wherever we happened to be, ever noticed or if they did they were polite enough not to comment. Just take your tablets no one else cares.

This has just made me snort my coffee up my nose 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm not a performative tablet taker 😂😂 if I need to take one when I'm out I do, I've never had anyone ask I don't make a big deal just take it, I'm not going to the toilet every time I need to take my meds for God's sake

These days at the cinema or theatre you'll not draw any attention amongst the audience eating, drinking, chatting.

I'm T2 diabetic (no insulin) but I'll do finger pricks wherever I need to, but as that's blood I'll be as discreet as possible.

i frequently take pain killers & don't even think about it, it does affect anyone else.

if I took other tablets and anyone asked about them I'd just say it's x for why. If I really didn't want to say what they were or were for I'd just lie. Easily, as it isn't their business & doesn't affect them

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

why are you worrying about it??

I do not/would not go to the toilets.

I just get my bottle of water out of my bag and take them.

Strange question!

I just take them.

Usually with a meal or a coffee at either a restaurant or coffee shop, but sometimes with a bottle of water at the theatre or on the street.

Nobody has ever commented if they did notice.

Get them out and take them ....why does it embarrass you or something?

Exactly this! I am such a ninja at taking my tablets that even the person with me (usually DC, DH, or friend) doesn't notice I have taken them!

I have to take them with every meal, so I just take them. Sometimes I forget so yes, it’s just in a crowd with a drink of some sort. I never really thought about it. The reason you’ve probably never noticed is because it’s quite an ordinary thing and you probably aren’t paying much attention, just like other people aren’t.

I take them wherever I am. Work, meals, pub.