I've always had a lot of trouble swallowing pills.. even when I take them with lots of water, I gag really badly and often almost throw up. My usual solution has been to avoid pills altogether, but now that I'm pregnant I need to take vitamins. So, any suggestions to make the pill swallowing easier? Thanks.

CaptainForest

Crush them up before taking them.

For years my mother was unable to swallow pills. So she crushed them up in this medicine crusher thing and took them that way.

Fr_Chuck

Capt is right, you can get a crusher at most drug stores.

Also many vitamens can be gotten in some brands in chewable versions

orange

Blah, don't they taste horrible when crushed up?? Well I guess beggars can't be choosers! Thanks guys for your suggestions. And I never thought of chewables! I'll ask my doc if prenatal vitamins come in a chewable form.

nymphetamine

Orange, when you crush them up mix them up in some apple sauce or puddding. That should help the taste some.

fredg

Hi,
My wife went through Chemo and Radiation treatments during 2004, resulting in no saliva now, it fried her saliva glands. But, we are blessed that she is now cancer free after 1 1/2 years.
I am thoroughly familar with crushing pills, since she couldn't take some of them even with water. Be sure to ask your pharmacist or doctor if the pill is "time release". Some of those types shouldn't be crushed up, cause they will give you a "rush" of medication all at once; possibly causing other problems.
But, as others have said, crush them up with a crusher, or use a spoon and a bowl, if they aren't too hard, to mash them into dust, then mix with a couple of teaspoons of apple sauce.
Another method that sometime worked for my wife, is to coat the pill with butter, or cooking oil, or something to make it "slippery". She didn't use that very often though, due to the "oily" taste!

orange

Oh sorry about your wife Fred, but I'm glad she's feeling better. I think I'll try the slippery thing.... I'll probably still gag but I don't mind the taste of oil so it's worth a shot! And thanks for the tip about "time release"... I was wondering about that. I may go to the pharmacy later today and ask there.

Applesauce or pudding might work too... thanks crankiebabie. I can always plug my nose while I eat it!

Chery

For vitamins, it's OK to use the crusher, but other meds can taste bitter, as you said. I had the same problem when I was a young woman, and what I did was take one pill at a time, place it as far back on the tongue as possible and take a swallow of banana juice, this was thick and made me think only of the juice and not the pill. The further back, the better, that way I didn't even think of the pill at all. Try it and let me know if it works for you. You could also put the pill on a spoon with the juice and place that as far back and just swallow, as long as it gets past the primary tastebuds - that's what gives you the 'gag' feeling. You can substitute banana with tomato juice if you like that taste better - as long as the juice is not watery. Good Luck..

orange

Oh thanks Chery that sounds like it might work too! I'm going shopping this afternoon so I'll pick up some thick juice, try it and let you know!

RickJ

Gosh, orange, we've got to stop meeting like this

...my gag reflex is also very sensitive.

My method is to put 2 ounces of water in a cup, drop the pill in it and quickly down it in one swig.

...kinda like I would if it were a jigger of Jaegermeister.