Three tips from a pharmacist for swallowing pills without discomfort: "Don't use water."

There are people who are unable to swallow a pill , and this may be due to an illness or disease, as is the case, for example, with those with Parkinson's disease or dysphagia, of which more than two million suffer in Spain . In many other cases, this is not the case.

For some people, swallowing pills is a real challenge, and there's no reason for it (although sometimes the fear of choking plays a role). Having to do it becomes an additional worry for them, adding to the distress they feel and for which they have to take the medication. Fortunately, there are some tricks that can help.

Three tricks to swallow pills without feeling bad

Those who readily take pills fail to understand the anguish of not being able to do so . Those who can't do it feel anguish from the moment they know they'll have to try. The fear of not being able to (even if they were able to at some point before) arises, as does the great discomfort of not being able to take the medication they know they need .

In general, it's not unusual for everyone to have their own tricks , which often involve looking for drinkable options for these medications, even though they're aware that the taste won't be the most pleasant. Eduardo Palomera , pharmacist at Farmacia Palomera in Zaragoza, often shares tips and advice on his social media, and on this occasion he wanted to give a little something to those who suffer from having to swallow pills, giving them three options .

The first trick is to avoid using water, something that's surprising, but she's quick to explain: "Don't use water, but rather a thicker drink like liquid yogurt or fruit puree, which helps with swallowing." The second tip refers to the head movement we usually make when trying to swallow , which isn't the most appropriate. We tend to think that tilting our head back is helping, but nothing could be further from the truth.

"Put the pill in your mouth with a little water, rest it on your tongue, and tilt your chin until it touches your chest." This simple gesture makes swallowing easier, which will also make it easier to swallow the pill. The third tip doesn't work in all cases; it only works in very specific cases, something Palomera makes clear in her video.

"If all of this isn't enough for you, and as long as the box doesn't say they're extended-release tablets or capsules or gastro-resistant tablets, you can crush it, dissolve it in a little water, and take it as if it were powder." This option is only valid for some medications, and it's best to check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if this is okay for the medications you're taking, because in many cases this isn't the case. However, there are options that come in powder form for dilution or syrup.

Not all medications can be split or crushed.

We tend to think that all medications with a score line can be broken and, therefore, crushed, but this isn't always the case, and that's why it's best to ask your trusted healthcare professional in each case. For medications with a score line that can be broken, it's recommended to do so if you're going to take both parts, because breaking them can't ensure that the active ingredient is evenly distributed.

This often happens with tablets, but it almost never happens with capsules. Although we can physically open them, it is recommended not to manipulate them before taking them . In the case of gastro-resistant capsules, neither the modified-release nor the extended-release pharmaceutical forms the pharmacist referred to, modifying or opening them would lose these properties. This could cause a premature release of the active ingredient , which could result in an overdose, causing adverse effects. It could also accumulate in the mucosa, causing gastritis or gastric ulcers.

References

Schiele, J.T., Schneider, H., Quinzler, R., Reich, G., & Haefeli, WE (2014). Two Techniques to Make Swallowing Pills Easier. The Annals Of Family Medicine , 12 (6), 550-552. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1693