Anyone else unable to swallow tablets?

[debka]

Have stinking cold, so decided to take some paracetamol. Choked on the bloody thing, then tried again and VOMITED into the sink FOUR TIMES. I am not a sick-y person but those bad boys just weren't going down. Anyone else had this?

PS tipped the contents of the capsule into my spoonful of cough mixture so tricked my body that way!!

I can't swallow tablets, never have really been able to. I (this is no joke) had to have therapy to be able to swallow the contraceptive pill - which is teeny tiny!! Once I stopped taking the pill I lost the 'nack' of swallowing pills again and have to have liquid everything. May I suggest calpol melt on the tongue paracetamol tablets? They are my life saver with pg headaches ;) Hope the cold gets better soon.

I have a serious gag reflex when pregnant, those pre natal vits / folic acid tablets make me heave just thinking about taking them! I tried to take one every day once I knew I was pregnant (was fine in the month leading up to BFP) but some days I couldnt face it and probably didnt take as many as I am 'supposed' to :-(

Not just me then! Thanks for the tip angels, will give them a go :)

A few tips (I have one child who has overactive gag and one with almost non existent one)

Fill mouth with fluid, slide tablet into mouth without losing liquid...large gulp with head back. Mouth needs to be really full

Yoghurt - big spoon of yoghurt or something thicker than liquid

Fizzy drinks also seem to help for some reason

Usually, one of the above works

You can buy soluble paracetamol - the one I use is called Panadol I think.

There are quite a few tips on swallowing tablets out there on the web if you google, but the only thing I've ever managed to get work is to take tablets with food rather than water.

Yes, I struggle with tiny folic acid tabs etc. I've no hope with those plastic jumping-bean things!!

A SaLT told me a few weeks ago that the way to do it if you have problems is to tip your head forwards so your chin is close to your chest, rather than the instinctive head back, as this makes the throat the right shape for everything to slip down easily.

Try Panadol. Works a bit faster too, especially if you make it with warm water.

One thing about Paracetamol is that there are lots of varieties available - I find the smooth coated caplets a lot easier to swallow than the big chalky pills or the plastic-ey capsules.

If you have anyone you know in the states get them to bring you a big bottle of liquid tylenol back - is like liquid paracetomol for adults - though is probably a different type of medicine so don't take my word for it - do check. My dh can't take pills but this is great if he has headache or similar.

Thanks everyone :)
Had enough sink-vomiting- will go for the soluble ones now.
Cold has improved :)

I have a similar problem, the larger the tablet the worse i am. Really struggle to swallow Sanatogen mum to be vits that i'm trying to take everyday. The only way i can manage is to take with a glass of milk. Even then some days i give up. Hopefully my diet will make up for any deficit.

Yes, I'm really bad at swallowing tablets anyway but I think it might have got worse since becoming pregnant. I have to break a paracetamol in half to swallow and regularly nearly choke on the pregnacare vitamins. It doesn't help that the vitamins taste disgusting if you don't swallow them down quick enough. I do not manage to take them everyday. Sometimes DH breaks them in half for me (don't think you are supposed to do that, but it is better than nothing) and sometimes I just hope that my diet has a reasonable amount of vitamins in.

Fizzy drinks! They float down on the bubbles.