Hey Alice! I realize this post is many, many years old, but I want you to know that it is the single most useful piece of advice I've ever found on the internet. I, too, struggled with swallowing...
Help! I can't swallow pillsOriginally Published: October 19, 2001 - Last Updated / Reviewed On: August 29, 2008 |
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Dear Alice,
I'm a young adult who can't swallow pills — so far I've always been able to find a chewable form of anything I've had to take, but this is a life skill that I think I should have. I've tried all sorts of methods — putting a pill in Jello/ice cream, filling my mouth with water and then trying to take a pill, even trying to swallow small candies as practice — but I just seem to gag. I think it's because my throat doesn't want to relax enough to let something solid slide down it — do you have any suggestions for how I could improve this situation?
Thanks, Can't Swallow
Dear Can't Swallow,
Rest assured that many young adults and some not-so-young adults share your problem. It's understandably strange to swallow a solid substance without chewing; it can seem against natural reflexes (not to mention, against table manners). Nonetheless, when it comes to medication, pills are extremely convenient and very much the norm. There is no cure-all for this challenge; different people use different strategies for different reasons. There are, however, liquid, powder, and even suppository forms of medications, herbs, and other healers; a chat with a pharmacist might be the best way to help the medicine go down.
But, since pill swallowing will likely remain part of your health plan from time to time, check out this physiology factoid: because of the epiglottis, the vocal fold closure that covers the larynx or voice box, it is physically impossible to inhale a pill. So, don't even worry about that happening.
You can approach pill swallowing from several angles. A number of handy tips, including some old tricks, some new ones, and some you've already tested, for trying to get those tablets, gel caps, or capsules down are listed in the table below:
| Practice foods | Swallow mini candies, or small bites of food, without chewing to simulate pill taking. |
| Embed a tablet in food and consume both together. IMPORTANT: Some prescription drugs are affected by certain foods, so check with your health care provider before trying this one. | |
| Helpful liquids | Sip a cold, carbonated beverage (sparkling water, lemon-lime soda) straight from the bottle when swallowing a pill. |
| Spray or gargle with an over-the-counter topical anesthetic (normally used for sore throats) before swallowing. | |
| Different techniques | Take a deep breath before putting the tablet in your mouth; some say that this can suppress gag reflexes. |
| Place the pill on the back of your tongue, drink some water, tilt your chin down toward your chest, and swallow. | |
| Put the pill on the tip of your tongue, drink some water, tilt your head back, and swallow. |
Combining some of the above ideas could yield a remedy for you, but if none of them help, it's time to consider some larger issues.
The fact is your throat is one part of your body, so it operates as part of a complex system. If you're tense about pill swallowing, that tension will most certainly surface when you try to swallow a pill. While it may seem as if you have an extraordinarily strong gag reflex or odd throat mannerisms, consider that it may actually be the power of your mind, not the power of your throat. Try to psych yourself out with this pill swallowing mantra — "I can swallow this." "I can see the pill going down."
Or, perhaps not being able to swallow tablets has something to do with a past event? Did you choke on a peach pit many years ago? Has a school nurse with dirty hands forced you to take a pill? Subconsciously, you may be dealing with issues such as these every time you try to swallow an aspirin or vitamin. Fear of choking, fear of medicine, or general anxiety may be preventing you from swallowing pills. If you think these mental factors are to blame, you might consider talking with a counselor.
While it seems unlikely, the possibility of a greater medical issue does exist. The medical term for difficulty swallowing is dysphagia, and the term is often used with regard to a disorder of the esophagus. At your next check-up, talk with your provider about your difficulty swallowing pills. Keep in mind, though, that if you can swallow your food without trouble, your esophagus is probably fine.
March 11, 2013
525288Hey Alice! I realize this post is many, many years old, but I want you to know that it is the single most useful piece of advice I've ever found on the internet. I, too, struggled with swallowing pills my entire life. I had more or less come to accept that I was stuck with chewing tablets and avoiding caplets, until I somehow stumbled upon this post a few years ago. This is what did it for me:
"Put the pill on the tip of your tongue, drink some water, tilt your head back, and swallow."
I've since learned that the act of tilting your head back opens up the throat and makes swallowing the pill a piece of cake. I really can't express my gratitude for having this spelled out so clearly - it sure is nice to not have to purchase an entire bottle of Children's Chewable Tylenol for menstrual cramps these days!
January 17, 2013
521862I have the same problem. What i do is i take a glass of diet coke, take a sip, then i eat the pill and then i drink the rest to supress the bad taste of the pill
I have the same problem. What i do is i take a glass of diet coke, take a sip, then i eat the pill and then i drink the rest to supress the bad taste of the pill