To ask how you swallow tablets?

[GarlicBreadStan]

For as long as I can remember (I'm 27, if that matters) I've had real issues with swallowing tablets. I can swallow my contraceptive pill absolutely fine, but anything bigger than that and I really do struggle. I often end up with the tablet dissolving in my throat, or I gag when trying to swallow it even with water. I've had to result in taking Calpol before because it was just easier. Because of my difficulty with swallowing tablets, I often don't take painkillers and just suffer through pain (and I have a migraine at least twice a month).

How do you take tablets or, if you can't, do you get prescribed/buy liquid painkillers?

Thank you x

P.S. sorry for saying the word "swallow" so many times :s

I used to be the same. I put liquid in mouth first pop tablet in and throw head back and swallow. It gets easier the more you get used to it

See, I've been doing it this way but then I really can't swallow it to the point it starts dissolving in my throat and then I gag and throw the tablet up

I always have a drink if water first to lubricate my throat and then pop the tablet it and take a big mouthful of water to wash it down.
I take Metformin tablets every day which are large and not enteric coated but I still manage to get them down

I hate taking tablets as well. I always fill my mouth up with juice (it can’t be water cos then I’m too aware of the tablet!) and then put the tablet in and swallow it with the drink.

People think it’s odd and it’s not the easiest way if taking them but I just can’t take them otherwise.

I also normally just go without so if I’m taking tablets you know it’s bad!

Water in then tablet in - tip your head forward, not back. Opens up your throat more.

I put tablets in then liquid to avoid early dissolving issue. I keep swallowing water several times until definitely all gone. Also a game changer was when a nurse told me that with multiple tablets it’s far easier to take all together than one at a time. It’s true.

Lots of fluid and I try to relax before swallowing. Standing up helps. There is one tablet that I’m really struggling with and I’m going to swap it out, it’s a multi vitamin so plenty of choice. It’s a bit rough in texture and I find it a bit big (but by tablet standards it’s quite normal!) 🫤

Put in mouth. Swallow. Preferably with water but can usually manage without if necessary.

If only it was that simple

Tried that this morning, and ended up being sick 😅

Something to line the throat first -bit of marshmallow, liquorice or dried mango. I have gastric reflux sometimes and get a gravelly voice and these help

If it's the size that's a problem, you can get pill cutters

I just pop it in the back of mouth and drink water until it is gone.

I’m not recommending this as a remedy but dd could never do it so I always had to crush them and add them to jam or something.

However, she had jaw surgery that involved breaking her bottom jaw, pulling it forward and down and putting in a titanium splint. Not only did her singing voice (which was always good but I found a bit tinny) develop a lovely rounded timbre but she can now swallow tablets of any size.

You can see on her X-rays how skinny her throat was and how it’s not skinny any more.

It took me half a pint of water to get 2 paracetomol down last night, and they still got stuck and gave me a coughing fit for half an hour!
Anything small with a coating I can manage, but chalky tablets or things in a capsule, there's no chance.
I was told to take them with milk, but hate the taste.

You have my sympathy, OP. I'm going to stick to soluable if pos from now on, but I've no idea what I'd do if I had DHs cocktail of heart drugs every day - I'd drown!

I snap the pills in half, or do sometimes cut them, and it's the same issue. I think it's partially the coating as well to be honest

I find the more the merrier. I take 6 in the morning - I swallow some room-temp water, put tablets in at the back of my mouth, tilt head back and swallow rest of the glass of water (I just keep glugging until it's empty and they get washed along. I can actually feel the top of my throat opening now to accept them so perhaps it has just got easier? Thinking/stressing about it must make everything close up?

Water pill water swallow.

I take one small tablet at bedtime and have to eat something to get it down. Usually a Munchie as the biscuit gives it more oomph than just chocolate. If I’m in a hotel and only have water it doesn’t work as well.

I know, right? I've just discovered this is my 15 yr old DS's preferred method - he rarely bothers with a drink. Freaks of nature imo!

I struggle with larger tablets too. I sometimes resort to breaking them in half, eating a mouthful of food and popping the pill at the back of my mouth just before swallowing and pushing it down with food.

I also struggled with taking tablets for a long time.

I think one of the issues that arises, is it becomes an anxious event for someone when the previous experiences have resulted in vomiting, gagging and just generally unpleasant. At that point every time you need to take a tablet, you are already in a heightened state, high really doesn’t help the situation.

I must have a drink when taking tablets. I usually take some small sips first, then it is true that tucking your chin into your chest, lobbing the pull as far back into my mouth, immediately swallow with a follow up sip of water, and then crucially I must have something to eat to swallow immediately down to make sure the pill is not lodged in my throat.

usually a 10p sized piece of bread, cracker, chocolate etc, that’s the only way I can do it.

You can put them on a spoonful of yoghurt, unless something in pharmacy directions specifically forbids this. And even then, if it's either take them with a spoonful of soft food or don't have them at all, this can be the lesser of two evils.

Check with your pharmacist before breaking them, some tablets are specifically coated to control the rate at which your body absorbs the medicine. For most things it will be fine though.

Oooh yogurt is a good plan.

Try swallowing the tablet with yoghurt or custard ( do check with pharmacy though because sometimes milk affects absorption of med in tummy)
Also ask pharmacist what other coatings you could try or if they have liquid pain meds. Lots of ppl have these difficulties and pharmacist known what the alternatives are.

Put tablet in. Large amount of water in mouth. Then tip head back.
Then open throat and gulp the water down.

So it's not really swallowing the tablet. It's gulping water and the tablet slides down with it. You shouldn't feel the tablet at all.

The key is to open the throat. That's why I do it in those four distinct steps. As they help me feel safe enough to open my throat. It's the same routine and I control when they happen.

Most tablets won't dissolve quickly as they are coated.

The only ones to avoid are those round paracetamol- always buy the slightly coated pellet shaped ones as the round ones can dissolve quite fast and dissolving paracetamol tastes rank.

However I think some people struggle more with swallowing so my technique isn't for everyone.