Difficulty Swallowing Pills - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

crohnsproof · 09-29-2009, 04:41 PM

Trouble Will Pills article encouraged me to ask, "Does anyone else have trouble just swallowing the huge pills?" I know it's mind over matter, but I gagged not too long back and I can't swallow the larger ones. I've resorted to chewable vitamins, I chew my calcium, and have gone back to powder cholestyramine since I can't swallow the pill. This is rediculous, I know. I can swallow a gulp of hamburger or any food. I do NOT have trouble with anything else. Any helps? I can put the pill in my mouth and my tongue just doesn't give it up.

imisspopcorn · 09-29-2009, 05:18 PM

I have the same advice as Shantel. Applesauce works good too. Pentasa was the worst because it is a capsule and they tend to float in the liquid and turn side ways. Ugg...I'm sorry.

Jiriji · 09-29-2009, 05:24 PM

I found that sometimes I couldn't swallow big pills because they were sticking to either my tongue or the roof of my mouth. Here's a couple of tricks that work for me.

1. Swallow a mouthful of water, then straightaway take the pill while your mouth is still nice and wet inside.

2. As above, but swallow a small piece of bread with the pill (it kind of collects it on the way down).

Sometimes the more you think about it, the harder it is to do it. Good luck!

crohnsproof · 09-29-2009, 06:36 PM

Thanks for the advice. I can stand at the kitchen sink and tell myself to swallow and keep the pill in my mouth until I finally spit it out. I'll try the food thing. And Jiriji, you are soooooooo right. The more I think about it the harder it is. It's the worse with the fish pill. Nasty, nasty. I'll let you know after my lunch.

katiesue1506 · 09-29-2009, 07:15 PM

Yeah the yogurt idea is great for the nasty tasting pred

nogutsnoglory · 09-30-2009, 03:02 AM

My brother can't swallow any pills so you aren't alone crohnsproof. I like everyone else suggest tricking yourself, put some marzipan around the pills or some kind of mush. take it with jello?

Lishyloo · 09-30-2009, 06:04 PM

I too am a total wimp with the pills - Pentasa are like frisbees! I blame my enormous tonsils, between which they regularly get stuck. I now only take my pills over the kitchen sink because I got bored with the clean up after pebbledashing the lounge with regurgitated pentasa granules...

fenway1971 · 10-01-2009, 12:54 AM

Take deep breaths through your nose. Close your eyes, put the pill on the back of your tongue and guzzle away your water.

Skinny Dub · 10-01-2009, 02:23 AM

Before I was digianosted with crohns I had a hard time swallowing any size pill and gag. But when they told me I had to take 14 pills a day it had become a mind over matter thing at that point and it just need to be done! The yougort or apple sauce trick never really worked for me because I tend to try and chew that stuff for some reason. Here are some tips...

1. Do not drink threw a straw.
2. Do not have ice in the drink.
3. Something flavored (not soda)
4. Taking predisone I like to use milk (it also gives you a little extra calcium and vitiam D needed with those pills)
5. Dont think about gaging only make it worse.

I'm sure you probably fallowed most of those guideliness but just incase and Good luck hopefully you can get them down.

10-01-2009, 03:44 PM

When i opened my sample pack of Pentasa today i let out a S***. Put taking them was suprisngly easy to the point where i just want to take all 8 at once cus they were so easy to get down. The trick is to not think about it, also make sure the pills are lined up vertically with your throat. Take plenty off water if you need to, and as always its best to take pills with food. I had a couple of pieces of bacon. Took a few bites of one strip and swallowed that down, then a drink of juice, then in went the pills and then more juice, and back to my bacon.

I may have an edge in pill taking dept cus i had to take some fairly big pills while in the hospital at the same time i had a tube down my throat into my stomach which made it hard to even swallow saliva without feeling congested.

But just RELAX, you swallow bigger pieces of food without even thinking about it.

forum contributor · 10-01-2009, 08:12 PM

Easier said than done.

I don't have a problem relaxing - I have a problem taking large pills.

Daisy G · 10-02-2009, 05:56 AM

I have a constant 'love/hate' relationship with Pentasa I've been taking these since the end of July '07 when I was first diagnosed with CD. Anyway, you'd think that after all this time I'll be an expert at swallowing these 'horse pills' but 'nope'!!! I also joke saying I need a knife and fork to assist? Anyway, my specialist has suggested I dissolve it in water but I graciously just smiled at him because I do not want to drink what to me would be the equivalent of swallowing sandy water i.e. the granules are massive. Good luck to you, yes I would also just say to you to relax ;-)

crohnsproof · 10-05-2009, 08:22 PM

Dang it all. I still can't get it through my head to swallow that dumb fish pill that's as big as a BRICK! Thank you for all of the suggestions. I'll continue to try, in the meantime, I found much smaller pills. hahaha

Crohn's_Doll · 10-05-2009, 08:32 PM

I had a hard time swallowing pentasa too. Those suckers are massive! I used ice cream, a nice big glob with the pill hidden inside, gotta swallow fast before it melts. The cold feels good and numbing too.

09-29-2009, 04:41 PM	#1
crohnsproof Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 118	Difficulty Swallowing Pills Trouble Will Pills article encouraged me to ask, "Does anyone else have trouble just swallowing the huge pills?" I know it's mind over matter, but I gagged not too long back and I can't swallow the larger ones. I've resorted to chewable vitamins, I chew my calcium, and have gone back to powder cholestyramine since I can't swallow the pill. This is rediculous, I know. I can swallow a gulp of hamburger or any food. I do NOT have trouble with anything else. Any helps? I can put the pill in my mouth and my tongue just doesn't give it up. __________________ www.crohnsproof.com Imuran, Colestyramine, Calcium (carbonate), Prednisone, B12 injections, Prevacid

09-29-2009, 05:18 PM	#2
imisspopcorn Punctuation Impaired Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5,945	I have the same advice as Shantel. Applesauce works good too. Pentasa was the worst because it is a capsule and they tend to float in the liquid and turn side ways. Ugg...I'm sorry. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~* Instead of hiding in the darkness of a grey cloud, why not look for the silver lining?

09-29-2009, 05:24 PM	#3
Jiriji New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 15	I found that sometimes I couldn't swallow big pills because they were sticking to either my tongue or the roof of my mouth. Here's a couple of tricks that work for me. 1. Swallow a mouthful of water, then straightaway take the pill while your mouth is still nice and wet inside. 2. As above, but swallow a small piece of bread with the pill (it kind of collects it on the way down). Sometimes the more you think about it, the harder it is to do it. Good luck! __________________ "I have NOT lost my mind — I have it backed up on tape somewhere."

09-29-2009, 06:36 PM	#4
crohnsproof Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 118	Thanks for the advice. I can stand at the kitchen sink and tell myself to swallow and keep the pill in my mouth until I finally spit it out. I'll try the food thing. And Jiriji, you are soooooooo right. The more I think about it the harder it is. It's the worse with the fish pill. Nasty, nasty. I'll let you know after my lunch. __________________ www.crohnsproof.com Imuran, Colestyramine, Calcium (carbonate), Prednisone, B12 injections, Prevacid

09-30-2009, 03:02 AM	#6
nogutsnoglory Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 218	My brother can't swallow any pills so you aren't alone crohnsproof. I like everyone else suggest tricking yourself, put some marzipan around the pills or some kind of mush. take it with jello? __________________ 6-MP, Probiotic, Iron, Multi-Vit, Fish Oil, Prayer, Aloe Vera, Apple Cider Vinegar, Calcium/Magnesium/Vit D liquid combo.

09-29-2009, 07:15 PM	#5
katiesue1506 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,398	Yeah the yogurt idea is great for the nasty tasting pred

09-30-2009, 06:04 PM	#7
Lishyloo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 617	I too am a total wimp with the pills - Pentasa are like frisbees! I blame my enormous tonsils, between which they regularly get stuck. I now only take my pills over the kitchen sink because I got bored with the clean up after pebbledashing the lounge with regurgitated pentasa granules...

10-01-2009, 12:54 AM	#8
fenway1971 Sports Crohnie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,834	Take deep breaths through your nose. Close your eyes, put the pill on the back of your tongue and guzzle away your water. __________________ Fen Crohn's Colitis (2003-present) Kidney Stones (1998, 2003, 2008) Medication 6-MP (2009-present) Vitamins/Supplements Multivitamin, Vitamin D, Turmeric Super Powers I am Batman

10-01-2009, 02:23 AM	#9
Skinny Dub Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 105	Before I was digianosted with crohns I had a hard time swallowing any size pill and gag. But when they told me I had to take 14 pills a day it had become a mind over matter thing at that point and it just need to be done! The yougort or apple sauce trick never really worked for me because I tend to try and chew that stuff for some reason. Here are some tips... 1. Do not drink threw a straw. 2. Do not have ice in the drink. 3. Something flavored (not soda) 4. Taking predisone I like to use milk (it also gives you a little extra calcium and vitiam D needed with those pills) 5. Dont think about gaging only make it worse. I'm sure you probably fallowed most of those guideliness but just incase and Good luck hopefully you can get them down.

10-01-2009, 03:44 PM	#10
Raleigh 1inadecade Guest Posts: n/a	When i opened my sample pack of Pentasa today i let out a S***. Put taking them was suprisngly easy to the point where i just want to take all 8 at once cus they were so easy to get down. The trick is to not think about it, also make sure the pills are lined up vertically with your throat. Take plenty off water if you need to, and as always its best to take pills with food. I had a couple of pieces of bacon. Took a few bites of one strip and swallowed that down, then a drink of juice, then in went the pills and then more juice, and back to my bacon. I may have an edge in pill taking dept cus i had to take some fairly big pills while in the hospital at the same time i had a tube down my throat into my stomach which made it hard to even swallow saliva without feeling congested. But just RELAX, you swallow bigger pieces of food without even thinking about it.

10-01-2009, 08:12 PM	#11
forum contributor Captain Obvious Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,687	Easier said than done. I don't have a problem relaxing - I have a problem taking large pills.

10-02-2009, 05:56 AM	#12
Daisy G New Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 26	I have a constant 'love/hate' relationship with Pentasa I've been taking these since the end of July '07 when I was first diagnosed with CD. Anyway, you'd think that after all this time I'll be an expert at swallowing these 'horse pills' but 'nope'!!! I also joke saying I need a knife and fork to assist? Anyway, my specialist has suggested I dissolve it in water but I graciously just smiled at him because I do not want to drink what to me would be the equivalent of swallowing sandy water i.e. the granules are massive. Good luck to you, yes I would also just say to you to relax ;-) __________________ Daisy G Currently on Pentasa

10-05-2009, 08:22 PM	#13
crohnsproof Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 118	Dang it all. I still can't get it through my head to swallow that dumb fish pill that's as big as a BRICK! Thank you for all of the suggestions. I'll continue to try, in the meantime, I found much smaller pills. hahaha __________________ www.crohnsproof.com Imuran, Colestyramine, Calcium (carbonate), Prednisone, B12 injections, Prevacid

10-05-2009, 08:32 PM	#14
Crohn's_Doll Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 56	I had a hard time swallowing pentasa too. Those suckers are massive! I used ice cream, a nice big glob with the pill hidden inside, gotta swallow fast before it melts. The cold feels good and numbing too.