Having trouble swallowing pills is a common issue, and you’re definitely not alone. The mere thought of having to swallow a tablet can often make the task harder.
A significant 40 percent of American adults have difficulty swallowing pills, although they typically don’t experience any problems with swallowing food or liquids. This is known as dysphagia.
Dysphagia refers to difficulties in swallowing, which can be triggered by certain medications or conditions like acid reflux.
Speech and Language Pathologist, Leanne Goldberg, notes, “As a clinical swallowing specialist, a common complaint I hear from my patients, is that they have difficulty swallowing pills.”
She adds, “Often, this occurs without any other issues swallowing food or liquids. If you’re experiencing difficulty with swallowing liquids and foods along with pills, seeking help from a medical professional specializing in dysphagia is advised.”
Dr. Goldberg mentions that many patients struggle with swallowing larger pills, although issues with small capsules are not rare. Various factors can contribute to these challenges.
Among these reasons, Dr. Goldberg lists several possible causes for pill-swallowing difficulties:
If swallowing pills is challenging for you, there’s a straightforward technique you can try, and it appears quite ingenious.
Dr. Goldberg recommends placing the pill in the center of a spoonful of apple sauce or yogurt—something with a similar texture—and allowing the pill to “slide down with the puree consistency.”
She suggests, “To counteract the hypersensitive gag reflex, one could take a deep breath, hold it, place the pill in the middle of the tongue, take a sip of liquid, and swallow firmly—all while maintaining a breath hold.”
Additionally, “One can also inquire if the medicine is available in liquid form and if not, cut a pill in half, or crush it and place it in a teaspoon of applesauce, and take it that way. This must be approved by your doctor, as certain medications cannot be crushed.”
If you often tilt your head back to swallow a pill, consider using a different approach, as it can raise the risk of choking.
Dr. Goldberg warns, “This is very dangerous, as it opens up the airway – the anterior tube in the neck – and gives the pill a direct shot to the airway.”
She advises that “A neutral head position, or even better, a chin towards chest position (also known as the ‘lean forward position’) is largely a safer way to swallow pills.”