So... How Do You Swallow Pills?

Cheiri

Cheiri

New member
I can't, and I'm quite embarrassed by the fact. Im not afraid I'm going to choke, but apperantly my body is and everytime I try, I just end up with water spit up all over myself and a mushy pill in my hand.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
 
My wife has the same problem. It's almost like if she is thinking about it she cant get one down but if I am talking to her or distracting her it happens involuntary and she is fine. So have someone kick you in the shin just as you take it and you will be fine. :rofl:
 
Cheiri said:
I can't, and I'm quite embarrassed by the fact. Im not afraid I'm going to choke, but apperantly my body is and everytime I try, I just end up with water spit up all over myself and a mushy pill in my hand.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
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It's all mental. My ex-girlfriend was the same exact way. No matter how hard she would try, she couldn't swallow pills, even if they were really, really tiny. Now, if you put a big cheeseburger in front of her, she would have no problem swallowing that, but, a pill? Nooooo waaaaay.

My best advice would be to mix it in with some food or just try and swish it down with some water. Remember...it's just a pill. You swallow bites of food which are much, much bigger. Just think of it that way.
 
I take a sip of water and hold it in my mouth, then pop the pill in and swallow. It eliminates the nasty taste some pill casings have and then you don't have the feeling you're washing something down. I do this with everything but advil; Advil has a pleasantly sweet taste.
 
I've never had a problem with pills, but I used to be an elderly woman's companion and she had to take multiple pills at a time. Try putting the pills (cut them up in smaller pieces if you need) in some apple sauce or pudding. That works for a lot of people that had trouble with swallowing pills.
 
I'm assuming you start to gag/choke when you feel the pills at the back of your throat?

First, relax your throat. Do you sing? If you do, you'll know how to "open up your throat" to give it more space.

Second, take a drink, then put the pills on your tongue, then take more liquid and keep swallowing.

Whenever you feel the gag reflex coming on, just keep swallowing. That stops the reflex dead in its tracks.

I don't have any trouble swallowing pills because I make my throat accessible to them (i.e., I relax and open it up). I take 6 huge pills in the morning with about 1oz of liquid. I can even swallow pills without liquid, although that takes a little extra saliva :D

Hope that helps you :)
 
Thank you, those that have actually said something useful, for your help. I'm still trying, but I keep unconsiously moving it the front of my mouth. =/ I really need to learn this.
 
I actually learned to take pills with a spoon full of jam/jelly.

Cause it takes your mind off of it.
And once you get used to it, it's just common nature.

Over thinking pills, will normally result in having a hard time.

My advice is, don't over think, pop it in and take a big swig of water!

Good luck!
 
gingerbabe said:
I've never had a problem with pills, but I used to be an elderly woman's companion and she had to take multiple pills at a time. Try putting the pills (cut them up in smaller pieces if you need) in some apple sauce or pudding. That works for a lot of people that had trouble with swallowing pills.
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There are some medications where the warming labels say do not cut up the pills... so read the instructions provided by the pharmacist before splitting... and there are other pills where you cannot take them with dairy products.
 
Cultivating the ability to "chug" liquid helps enormously.

Incidentally, before you start mashing/cutting pills up, some prescription medications or time release OTC meds are not meant to be dissolved or otherwise broken up before swallowed, so you need to check with your doctor/pharmacist about that.

To swallow a pill that is not a capsule, put it in your mouth as far back on your tongue as you can. Take a large, but not monstrous, mouthful of water (don't take pills with anything other than plain water). "Toss" the water back into your mouth quickly and swallow with your head tilted up, nose pointed to the ceiling.

With capsules the swallowing process is in reverse (tilt your head downward a little, nose toward the floor) as capsules float.

Don't overthink the process, and don't hesitate with the pill in your mouth too long, it gets stuck to your tongue and that ruins everything. The trick is to learn how to swallow a large mouthful of water quickly, first, and then learn to toss the pill in your mouth and take a quick gulp of water and wash that bad boy back fast.
 
Ok so I'll keep this to a minimum, I used to always with no problem what so ever, just pop the pills with no liquid.

Now I can barely take any pills at all. Due to trying to O.D. on a bunch in about 15 mins.

Now every time I try to just take a vitamin, I guess it brings back the pain that I had after those 15 mins. Now I have to take a big gulp of water, but even than my mind fights it.
 
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