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Swallowing

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Tips to Make Swallowing Pills Easier

“Pill dysphagia” or trouble swallowing pills is very common. People may have difficulty swallowing pills – but little to no trouble swallowing solid foods or liquids. Below are some helpful strategies to improve your ability to swallow pills.

Researched techniques that may improve your pill swallowing:

Pop-bottle method for swallowing tablets:

  1. Fill a plastic water or soda bottle with water.
  2. Put the tablet on your tongue and close your lips tightly around the bottle opening.
  3. Take a drink, keeping contact between the bottle and your lips by pursing your lips and using a sucking motion to swallow the water and pill. Swallow the water and pill right away.
  4. Don’t let air get into the bottle.

Lean forward method for swallowing capsules:

  1. Put the capsule on your tongue and take a medium sip of water – do not swallow yet.
  2. Bend the head forward by tilting your chin slightly toward your chest.
  3. Swallow the capsule and the water with the head bent forward.

To Crush or Not to Crush:

Crushing pills is a common solution to pill dysphagia. However, not all pills are designed to be crushed. Sometimes crushing pills can change the bioavailability or dosing of a medicine, which alters how effective the medicine is.

Some pills should not be crushed in order for the medication to work as intended. Be sure to check with your pharmacist or prescribing MD before crushing pills.

If a pill is approved to crush: Crush pill and add the powder to a soft/creamy texture such as applesauce. This will allow the pill powder to blend easily. Applesauce has been demonstrated to have minimal effect on altering medicines.

Helpful Strategies:

  • Take only one pill at a time.
  • Do not use fruit juices. These have been proven to alter effectiveness of medicines.
  • Put your pill in a spoonful of applesauce - swallow in one bite.
  • Take smaller, easier pills first. Starting off with pills that are easier to swallow can help reduce anxiety associated with pill taking difficulty.

Adjuncts:

  • It is recommended to attempt pill swallowing with the strategies listed above. However, there are several products available to purchase that may improve your ability to swallow pills.
  • This list is intended as a patient resource only. UMMC does not endorse or recommend any brand or supplier of these products over the other.
    • Pill Swallowing Cups
      • Example: Oraflo Pill Swallowing Cup, GMS Pill Taker’s Cup
    • Pill Swallowing Spout or Straw
      • Example: Ezy Dose Medi-Spout
    • Pill Swallowing Gels (PSGs)
      • Example: Phasix Pill Swallowing Gel, Pill Glide Swallowing Spray

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of the following specialists:

    1. Prescribing doctor for alternate medicine/pill options
    2. Pharmacist for potentially modified routes/options for your medicine
    3. Speech-language pathologist for further swallowing evaluation and intervention if warranted (UMMC Speech-Language Pathology 601-815-6064).

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