Swallowing a big pill can cause some people to choke or gag. Before you put yourself through the discomfort of trying, see if you can split or crush the pill. In some cases, doing so won't affect the strength of the pill, but confirm this with your doctor or pharmacist. Splitting the pill in two can make swallowing a lot easier.
Step 1
Chew some banana, bread or other chewy food. Once you're done chewing, add the pill to your mouth so it mixes with the food and you can swallow everything together. If you're having trouble swallowing big pills because they're hard, hiding them in food will solve the problem.
Step 2
Use applesauce, peanut butter or cottage cheese. Even jelly might work. Fill a large spoon with one of these and place the pill in the middle. Eat the whole thing at once.
Step 3
Use thick drinks instead of water. Place the pill close to the back of your tongue and then take a big gulp of orange juice, milkshake or liquid yogurt. You can also try sweet liquids such as soda. Sometimes using a liquid that has some flavor to it helps control the gag reflex and makes it easier to swallow a pill.
Step 4
Put the pill in your mouth. Take a deep breath and hold it in while you take a big gulp of water. Swallow and then exhale. This might help with the gag reflex and make it easier to swallow a large pill.
Member Comments