Help! Dd can’t swallow tablets..

[toadstool32]

As in, at all. Even calpol has to be meltlets. Antibiotics always liquid only. She’s 15.

Now she’s been prescribed roaccutane (no negative replies, please) and it absolutely cannot be cut, crushed, chewed or emptied.

Dd is desperate to get going with the treatment but the anxiety of swallowing a tablet is giving her immense fear.

I’ve bought straws to try drinking it down with. Any other suggestions? The tablets are imo quite large.

Try with orange juice, a viscous liquid usually helps

Such a good idea - I’m shit at taking tablets
I’m going to give this a shot!

I struggled with tablets u til my late teens. The chin down method was what finally make it work for me. Maneuver the tablet as far back in your mouth as possible, plenty of water but not too much that the tablet can slosh around, chin down and swallow.

Use a fizzy drink

it confuses your brain so you don’t notice the tablet

For me, dry tablet on tongue (I hate it if it goes mushy, it makes me heave) then just gulp a drink.

When my son was diagnosed with cancer at 8, they taught him on the oncology ward using tic tacs and it worked almost immediately.

They did it with all of the children from about 3+ as unfortunately cancer treatment usually involves taking a lot of meds.

He still takes a number of meds now that he's in remission and still can swallow them like a pro.

I am nearly 50 and have always struggled with taking tablets. It is really hard! If they are actually chalky tablets use a smoothie drink. If they are capsules (plastic coated ones) don't tip the head back as the float. Tip the head forward.

We will definitely try the chin down!

I agree with something thicker like yoghurt, milk, or a fizzy drink.

Lubricate the mouth with it first, so it is less likely to stick.

Do not tip the head back; chin down or at least level is better.

This is all my personal experience. My kids can swallow pills dry! How 🤯 ?

My 10 year old DD does it with a spoonful of yoghurt, she chooses tablets over liquid antibiotics as hates anything banana flavoured, she got a bit anxious at first but the yoghurt worked a treat.

I didn’t realise I had a different technique to most until I met my partner in my 20s! I fill my mouth with the drink (squash) then slip the tablet in and head down, swallow. I had no idea people were putting them in dry! I had to break big tablets in half for a very long time too. I have a very sensitive gag reflex, I find X-rays at the dentist almost impossible with that cardboard in your mouth and heave non stop.

My 8 year old had no choice but to learn quickly how to swallow tablets during a serious illness. What worked in the end was allowing him to have fizzy diet coke with the tablets. It was the fizz that helped!

update : thanks to the superb trick here just to use a straw and put your chin down when swallowing, dd is now a pro at taking tablets!