Adults Who Can't Swallow Pills

LisaRN2B · Jan 13, 2004

Originally posted by athomas91
i am sorry you have had to live w/ implications such as those...my father and my sisters have always had horrible mouth ulcers (usually when sick) and i know they are both painful and unsightly....

Thank you. And ya know what? After I posted originally to you, I noticed one had erupted on my lip. Have taken my Valtrex...and was able to swallow that dang horse pill with the great advice on this thread.

Chrislynn2003 · Jan 13, 2004

I had to start taking medicine regularly when I was 10. I had a fear of swallowing the capsules; but naturally I got over that fear and now it's no big deal. I still hate those huge chalky tablets, so i just snap in half. I think that some ppl just have that fear and if they are an adult and have never taken pills that size on a regular basis, they may be scared. I dont blame em.

Christine

MAGIK GIRL · Jan 14, 2004

Originally posted by Medic946RN
Where I work now we seem to have cornered the market on adults who can't swallow pills. I'm not referring to children or eldery people with dysphagia. I'm talking about gagging and crying like they were four or something. They whine and beg you. "Please don"t make me take that pill. I can't swallow it, I never have been able to."
I swear I see at least one a week. I've tried everything, even crushing pills in applesauce. They just can't swallow the med. Of course they don't want an injection or a suppository either.
Anybody else run into this in the ED?

:devil: well, i guess i'm just a bratt! unless there is some medical condition or the pt is just crazy (and i mean that in the nicest way) there is no reason why they can't take a pill. if they say please dont' make me take that pill, i say "okay, i will let the doctor know that you refused the med".

i am tired of coddeling adults. they are adults and not babies. they have the right to refuse anything they want. i am not going to beg them to take pills, get tests, get needles, not to do drugs, not to abuse etoh and not to sign out ama (i will however ask them not to let the door hit them in the butt on the way out!)

who are we as nurses to think that we can tell everyone how they should live?

"please don't make me swallow that pill...." "kay' i won't"

i also find it annoying when adults try to act like babies and they think they are being cute. swallow one horse pill? there was a time when i took all 10 of mine at once, every day.

boooohooooo!

:kiss

cuss words removed!

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2004

I like your style magik

:lol2:

LisaRN2B · Jan 14, 2004

Originally posted by MAGIK GIRL
well, i guess i'm just a bi*#h! unless there is some medical condition or the pt is just crazy (and i mean that in the nicest way) there is no reason why they can't take a pill.............................................................."please don't make me swallow that pill...." "kay' i won't"
i also find it annoying when adults try to act like babies and they think they are being cute. swallow one horse pill? there was a time when i took all 10 of mine at once, every day.

boooohooooo!

:kiss

:eek:

Silkybo · Jan 14, 2004

I am 34 yrs old and still can't swallow pills, and neither can my 61 yr old father. I can drink an entire glass of water and the pill just tucks up against the ridge on the roof of my mouth and sits there. I have had several dentists tell me I have an unusually shaped palate or torus, so this may contribute to my difficulty. Ive tried the chin down trick, the applesauce and crackers and everything else, and I also chew all my food to puree before attempting to swallow. I even have to chew up the time release enteric coated pills, even though I know better...its chew it or don't take it at all. Most pills taste really nasty, so Id much prefer to swallow them...I just can't. Its durn embarassing to ask for liquids, and a lot of meds don't come that way, or insurance wont cover a more expensive liquid when there is a generic pill available....please understand some patients may have a real problem with pills, and we are sick and tired of being told we just aren't trying...trust me, Id love to be able to take pills like everybody else, and so would most of your patients!

live4today, RN · Jan 14, 2004

I've cared for elderly patients (over age 70) who have trouble swallowing pills, but every now and then, I'd get some who would tilt the entire full cup of pills into their mouths and swallow with a sip or two of water. :eek: Now THAT's what I call "taking your pills without a fuss"! :chuckle

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 14, 2004

Originally posted by MAGIK GIRL
well, i guess i'm just a bratt! unless there is some medical condition or the pt is just crazy (and i mean that in the nicest way) there is no reason why they can't take a pill. if they say please dont' make me take that pill, i say "okay, i will let the doctor know that you refused the med".

i am tired of coddeling adults. they are adults and not babies. they have the right to refuse anything they want. i am not going to beg them to take pills, get tests, get needles, not to do drugs, not to abuse etoh and not to sign out ama (i will however ask them not to let the door hit them in the butt on the way out!)
who are we as nurses to think that we can tell everyone how they should live?

"please don't make me swallow that pill...." "kay' i won't"
i also find it annoying when adults try to act like babies and they think they are being cute. swallow one horse pill? there was a time when i took all 10 of mine at once, every day.

boooohooooo!

:kiss

cuss words removed!

Do you know how embarrassing it can be to admit you can't swallow pills, KNOWING that the nurse is thinking EXACTLY what you just wrote?

flashpoint · Jan 14, 2004

I think that Medic946RN has a point...I'm not saying we should think badly of people who cannot swallow pills, but it is very frustrating to have people come in to the ER wanting medical treatment, but refuse oral, IM, SQ, IV, and PR meds! :) "I want you to make me better, but I won't take a pill, shot, or suppository to do it...and don't try to make me take crushed pills either...they taste terrible." I sympathize with people who cannot swallow pills, but there is not much I can do about it other than offer to crush them, try to find the med in a liquid form, or see if it can be given IM / SQ / IV...if someone refuses the med by every available route, what are we supposed to do? I try to work with patients, but sometimes, I just don't know what to do...

flashpoint · Jan 14, 2004

Perhaps refuse is not the best word...if a patient is unable to tolerate PO meds for whatever reason and they refuse meds by other routes, what can we do? I don't like needles or suppositories either, but if I couldn't take the meds PO, I guess I would have to accept them by other routes...

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jan 14, 2004

It is so FRUSTRATING to me when someone vents about a problem, and everyone else piles on with how insensitive they are.

The original poster was talking about patients that refuse ALL routes, what else are you going to do but document "patient refused" after reviewing every - possible - alternative(sigh). And they still won't take the med.

OF COURSE a reasonable nurse will try to accomodate the patient. But what is also obvious is that the patient must be willing to be part of the team...tell us what's worked in the past, at least try some of our hairbrained ideas, and don't whine and cry about how mean we are to give them this huge pill. We didn't make the gosh- darn tablet!

A reasonable nurse would also assume that their coworkers are doing their best and are compassionate with their patients, and obviously about 50% of the posters on this thread jumped right to the opposite conclusion.

athomas91 · Jan 14, 2004

canoehead gets a standing ovation.........

i agree - i think this post was based on those patients who are just being difficult....and you know who they are- we've all had them....

they are just like the ones who come in w/ abd pain but refuse labs, refuse and xray....they just want a med "to make them better"

i got 4 words....."don't waste my time!!!!!"