Your doctor has prescribed medication for you. You decided to start taking vitamins. You have a headache and want to take a pain reliever. Each of these circumstances is a reason to know how to take a pill. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, however, the simple act of taking medication can become a problem.
Step 1
Place the pill on a spoon filled with honey. The honey tastes sweet, making it a pleasure to swallow. It is also slippery and will slide down your throat, taking the pill with it.
Step 2
Ask the pharmacist if you can cut the pill into smaller pieces. In some cases, pills are not safe if they are cut. Many pills on the market, however, can be cut and then taken in as many small pieces as you feel comfortable with.
Step 3
Refrain from drinking liquids for an hour before taking your pill. Place the pill on the back of your throat. Guzzle a bottle of room temperature water as if you don’t have a pill in your mouth. The water will race down your throat, taking the pill on its journey.
Step 4
Tilt your head back and look at the sky or ceiling as you are swallowing the pill. This action encourages the downward pull of the pill to your stomach.
Step 5
Hide the pill in a spoon filled with yogurt or ice cream. Tuck it deep into the center of the treat and then swallow it quickly without thinking. Often, the inability to swallow pills is anxiety or habit based. Swallowing a sweet treat within seconds can break the habit of not being able to swallow pills.
Step 6
Chew it before swallowing it. Check with your doctor before you attempt this method, because some medications will be altered if they are crushed or chewed. If it is a capsule, ask the doctor if you can mix it in a cup of juice and swallow the pill’s contents with the juice.
Photo Credit
- pill box and pills image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
