Swallowing tablets

[4getmenot]

Ok after reading the phobia of polo necks question I wanted to ask for my friend if anyone cant take tablets through fear of choking? Is there anyway my friend can get over this. I don't get it myself as surely most food she swallows is bigger than a tablet.

[B00]

lol, my daughter is exactly the same, I mean the 18yr old not Mini Boo.

She gets round this by crushing Paracetamols with the back of a spoon, then plopping the dust in a glass of water!!!!!

And no, I dont get it either.

[4getmenot]

Its weird I could give my mate the tiniest smoothest pill and she cant do it even when she eats stuff way bigger. Even her pill she has to half???

[Pea Pod]

There was a warning on TV last week that some prescription drugs should not be crushed. I think these have swallow whole written on the pack.

[whiffey]

In some cases this can be because of the awareness of how important it is to take the tablet.

It can be useful to 'practice' on tablets or capsules where it doesn't matter, e.g. cod liver oil or vitamins. If you're really brave try an ASDA omega-3 capsule, they are huge !

[4getmenot]

Yer I heard that. Something like it doesnt absord properly into the body. Well what will they do then. Dont see why they dont just chew them probably tastes as bad as crushing them up and putting them in water.

[BagPussAA]

Most tablets these days do come in soluble forms. All over the counter pain killers certainly do and most doctors will prescribe in a different form if you cant swallow pills

[bednobs]

lots come in suppository form too ... maybe that would be more acceptable to her?

Try by first taking the tablet after meals, as you throat has already been used to opening.

[pinksmartie]

I thought that you weren't suppoed to crush some tablets because they are meant to be absorbed or whatever slowly, and when you crush them they get absorbed quicker so your body gets a bigger dose at once that it would if it was being released gradually. Don't hold me to it, that's just something I've picked up somewhere or other. Couldn't say if it's exactly correct or not. :)

Any way, to answer your question... well, I don't have an answer, although I never used to be able to swallow tablets because the first time I tried I nearly choked and it put me off. I got over this by my brother leading me through it step by step - sounds wierd I know, lol.

[shaneystar2]

They go down much easier if you take them with a fizzy drink .
Sparkling water being the best option.

[daisy48]

Another option which works. Tell your friend not to go with gravity as normal,when she takes her pill tell her to pop it on her tongue,tuck her chin into her chest and swallow with a drink. She could also send the pill down with a biscuit or a piece of fruit 4getme not. I use the former and it works for me.

[mandimoo]

people with fear of swallowing tend to put the tablet as far back in the mouth as possible, which apparantly is the worse thing to do. i have tried this and it does seem easier to put the tablet on the tip of the tongue and take a few swigs of something, as if you were real thirsty. i find it more difficult with fizzy drink, unlike shaneystar2, but i struggle to drink much fizzy with or without tablets.

[andy-hughes]

Here's a method to try -

take and hold a mouthful of water in the mouth

open the lips far enough to slip the pill in behind the teeth, open teeth once lips are closed

bend over at the waist - the tablet will now float in the water in the mouth

straighten up quickly and follow through by throwing the head back in a smooth motion as the body bedomes upright

as the head goes back, swallow, and the water, carrying the pill, will go down.

Worth a try.

[mandimoo]

andy-hughes.... i reckon id choke if i did that, but its making me giggle, thanks for the image!