The fear of swallowing pills is a fairly common one. It is more common in children than adults and is one that can compromise treatment if not addressed in time. Apart from this fear other problems that are associated with pills include bad taste and forgetfulness. These problems are more pronounced in people with chronic illnesses who require constant medication. There are a number of tips on how to swallow pills that have been found to be useful.
The fear of gagging is the biggest challenge to swallowing. While the gag reflex is very vital to the maintenance of a patent airway, it may impede the passage of some substances such as medication. Successful swallowing of some drugs may require that this reflex is suppressed at least momentarily. There are several relaxation techniques that can be used to relax and suppress it.
Positioning is key to the success of any form of swallowing. Ensure that the chin is as close to the chest as possible. This position helps open the esophagus and close the windpipe. This position also helps in stifling the gag reflex. The next thing that you need to do is to take a deep breath which also helps in suppressing the reflex, place the pill in the middle of the tongue and washing it down with some water.
The use of sweeteners is quite widespread because of its simplicity. Peanut butter and honey are some of the most commonly used sweeteners. Put the tablet on a spoon and add a drop or two of honey on it. Swallow both of them with a glass of water. The sweetener that is chosen should not affect the effectiveness of the drug. Peanut butter and honey do not affect this potency.
A number of pills are available with an enteric coating that makes them easy to swallow. The coating also helps to reduce irritation that may occur as they enter the gut. Ensure that you inquire about the availability of this type if you have trouble swallowing the ordinary types. The sweet taste of the pills stimulates salivation which in turn stimulates the swallowing reflex. There may or may not be a need for water.
Candy may help in some cases. Try swallowing candy equivalent to the size of the pill for practice. After several attempts, it becomes possible to swallow almost anything. This happens due to the relaxation of the esophagus cause by successive swallowing processes. The use of other liquids other than water has also been shown to be effective.
Breaking down pills is yet another option that one may consider. A number of them can even be ground into powder. Breaking down drugs in this manner may, however, interfere with the effectiveness. It is important that you go through the instructions on the drug sheet before you arrive at such a decision. Better still, consult with your pharmacist.
Scheduled medications pose a challenge to many people. Forgetting a dosage is very easy if you have many things to deal with in a day. One of the ways of tackling this is to have an alarm reminder that goes off every time your medication is due. You may also plan your dosages in such a manner that they coincide with meal times.
The fear of gagging is the biggest challenge to swallowing. While the gag reflex is very vital to the maintenance of a patent airway, it may impede the passage of some substances such as medication. Successful swallowing of some drugs may require that this reflex is suppressed at least momentarily. There are several relaxation techniques that can be used to relax and suppress it.
Positioning is key to the success of any form of swallowing. Ensure that the chin is as close to the chest as possible. This position helps open the esophagus and close the windpipe. This position also helps in stifling the gag reflex. The next thing that you need to do is to take a deep breath which also helps in suppressing the reflex, place the pill in the middle of the tongue and washing it down with some water.
The use of sweeteners is quite widespread because of its simplicity. Peanut butter and honey are some of the most commonly used sweeteners. Put the tablet on a spoon and add a drop or two of honey on it. Swallow both of them with a glass of water. The sweetener that is chosen should not affect the effectiveness of the drug. Peanut butter and honey do not affect this potency.
A number of pills are available with an enteric coating that makes them easy to swallow. The coating also helps to reduce irritation that may occur as they enter the gut. Ensure that you inquire about the availability of this type if you have trouble swallowing the ordinary types. The sweet taste of the pills stimulates salivation which in turn stimulates the swallowing reflex. There may or may not be a need for water.
Candy may help in some cases. Try swallowing candy equivalent to the size of the pill for practice. After several attempts, it becomes possible to swallow almost anything. This happens due to the relaxation of the esophagus cause by successive swallowing processes. The use of other liquids other than water has also been shown to be effective.
Breaking down pills is yet another option that one may consider. A number of them can even be ground into powder. Breaking down drugs in this manner may, however, interfere with the effectiveness. It is important that you go through the instructions on the drug sheet before you arrive at such a decision. Better still, consult with your pharmacist.
Scheduled medications pose a challenge to many people. Forgetting a dosage is very easy if you have many things to deal with in a day. One of the ways of tackling this is to have an alarm reminder that goes off every time your medication is due. You may also plan your dosages in such a manner that they coincide with meal times.
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