My son, who just turned 9 can't swallow pills. It's psychological i'm sure, mixed with anxiety. He has ADD and takes Strattera. I have to mix it with Sunny D (we've tried jello, yogurt, ice cream, you name it.). I told him as soon as he swallows the REAL thing I will give him $50. I also told him as when as I give him the $50 bill, I would get in my car and drive him to the store so he could spend it. The amount of meds that is inside the capsule is so minute, that i'm afraid some is sticking to the cup...it often does, and i'm also tired of mixing it in twice daily.
I've tried putting it into yogurt, we've practiced w/marshmallows. He just can't do it. Aside from a big cup of mom-needs-to-get-over-it can anyone offer any suggestions on how to get him to swallow it???
I've also tried having him place his entire mouth around a water bottle, with the pill on his tongue (as per suggestion by the pharmacist). I've tried swallowing one along with him...Nothing has worked so far...It's been since September.
I am going to continue to try (with his emptied out capsule) every night...if ANYONE has an idea better that the ones i've done...
I learned to swallow pills by tilting my head back, gargling with water, then dropping the pill in and swallowing. That's also how I taught my sister. The first few times were difficult, but I finally got it!
I'm 31 years old and I cannot swallow a pill. I have tried everything that I can think of but it wont go down. I know its all in my head but I still can't do it.
When I first started taking pills, I had to put the pill on my tongue and push it to the back of my tongue with my finger. Then I would just take of swig of water and swallow. I hope you find something that helps.
I'm 31 years old and I cannot swallow a pill. I have tried everything that I can think of but it wont go down. I know its all in my head but I still can't do it.
Princess, I thought I was the only one reading this thread that couldn't swallow pills! Thankfully, I don't have to be on pills regularly.
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
I don't like to take pills but when I do I insert them into a large spoonful of yogurt. I like the food bolus idea also. Never did like taking them with just water because sometimes they would get stuck in my throat which would panic me even more.
I understand where youre coming from. As a child, I could not swallow pills for anything. My issue was I had a fear of choking. Even the smallest pill would make me nuts. I would get ready to swallow the pill and I would get it to the back of my throat and then get all worked up and actually make myself choke on it. I was 13 before I could swallow any pills. Here I am almost 27 and sometimes I still get freaked out when trying to swallow pills...
I do not have any help to offer you but I wanted to let you know there is someone else out there, who had the same problem. I wish you all the luck in the world.
I couldn't swallow pills until I was 18--I was terrified of choking. I had to take a couple different allergy meds every day, and I chewed them. One day I realized that one of the meds was no bigger than a red hot (cinnamon candy), and that I swallowed bites of food bigger than that. I tried to swallow my tiny pill, and succeeded. Eventually I was brave enough to try swallowing my larger meds. Once in a while I still can't get a large vitamin or calcium to go down, but I can get regular meds down pretty easily most days.
kurlykay
52 Posts
I learned to swallow pills by tilting my head back, gargling with water, then dropping the pill in and swallowing. That's also how I taught my sister. The first few times were difficult, but I finally got it!