Whether you're taking a multivitamin on a daily basis or your doctor has prescribed you a new medication, you have to swallow the pills before they can work. If you have trouble swallowing pills, you may gag, dry heave or even vomit when it's time to take your medication. By knowing tricks to swallow pills easily, you can get the pill down and get on with your life.
Step 1
Practice your pill-swallowing skills with a pleasant tasting candy, suggests Columbia University's advice columnist, Alice. By practicing with small candies like M&Ms or Skittles, you can test various ways to swallow pills in a safe way. You might have better luck placing the pill on the back of your tongue, or try taking a deep breath before swallowing.
Step 2
Drink something carbonated when you take the pill. Sip a small amount of soda or seltzer, and then push the pill through your pursed lips. Then swallow the whole mouthful. The fizzing of the carbonation may disguise the taste and sensation of the pill in your mouth, making it easier to swallow.
Step 3
Slip the pill under your tongue. If the taste of the pill is the problem, placing it on the surface of the tongue can make you gag. By placing it under the tongue, you bypass the taste buds. Take a drink of water and allow the pill to flow to the back of your mouth and down your throat, which will keep you from ever having to taste the pill.
Step 4
Call your pharmacist and ask whether the type and form of medication you're taking can be ground up. Tablets can usually be broken and smashed, resulting in a smaller powder. That powder can then be added to another food, like pudding or applesauce, suggests Palmetto Health. This is especially effective for children. If the medication you're taking shouldn't be crushed, take the pill while eating food: take a bite of bread, chew, and before swallowing, place the pill in your mouth and swallow everything down.
Tips and Warnings
- Ask your doctor for a liquid or chewable tablet form of your medication if you're still having problems getting your pills down, says Northern County Psychiatric Associates of Baltimore, Maryland. Since your medication is important, your doctor will make sure you have a way to take it, and suggest different formulas or tricks to make sure you take your medicine.
Things You'll Need
- Soda
- Small candies
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