Tips for Swallowing Pills: Overcome Your Struggles

Welcome to this week’s Tips and Tricks Tuesday! Today, I’m sharing some helpful tips for people who have trouble swallowing pills. While I personally don’t have this issue—I can swallow multiple pills of different sizes and types at once—I know that for many people, it’s a real challenge. Over the years, numerous patients have told me how difficult and even distressing it can be. For some, it’s a mechanical issue (such as after a stroke), while for others, it’s just the way pills feel in their throat that triggers a gag reflex. Regardless of the cause, let’s take a look at some practical solutions that might help.

1. Talk to Your Doctor About Alternatives

Many medications come in different forms, such as liquids, powders, or chewable tablets. If swallowing pills is a major issue for you, it’s worth asking your doctor if there’s an alternative version of your medication that might be easier to take. However, keep in mind that not all medications are available in alternative forms, and those that are may be more expensive than the standard pill version.

2. Crushing Pills or Mixing with Food or Drink

For many medications, crushing pills and mixing them with food or drink can make them easier to swallow. Some people find that mixing crushed pills with thicker foods like applesauce or pudding works best, as these foods help mask the taste. If you prefer liquids, choose something with a strong flavor—citrus juices often do the trick.

Be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before crushing any medication, as some pills should never be altered in this way. Certain medications, especially time-released formulas, may lose their effectiveness or cause harm if crushed.

3. Try the "Pill in Food" Method

If the idea of crushing pills doesn’t appeal to you, simply hiding the whole pill in a spoonful of thick food like pudding or applesauce might be the solution. Many people have found that this method helps the pill slip down without much trouble, and the food helps mask both the size and taste of the pill.

How to Go About Crushing?

If you’re interested in the crushing and mixing method, there are many different crushing methods and devices people use.

In the hospital where I work, we use two different crushing tools. One is a twist-and-crush contraption just like this one.

These are great because they are small and portable, and the caps screw on. They are also pretty inexpensive, and this one is going on Amazon for less than $5 right now. The downside is that using them requires fairly decent hand strength and dexterity.

The other device we use in the hospital is much more expensive. But requires very little strength to use.

The downside is the expense. This one is going for about $70 on Amazon right now. You also have to buy refills of the little plastic crushing bags since they are for one-time use.

Many Options and Free Ones

If you take a quick look online, there are lots of different options, even some pretty cool dual-use devices that work as both a pill cutter and splitter. There are electric crushers and ones that hold extra doses of pills

You probably even have a traditional crusher in your home right now. The simple mortar and pestle have been used in pharmacies for ages, and whether you have a more common marble one or a stainless steel one like this,

they are great options to this day. Just remember to clean them after every use, and I would use a dedicated one for medications so as not to risk cross-contaminating food, which could adversely affect both you and other people.

Final Thoughts

Remember, everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Finding the best method for you might take some trial and error. Be patient and experiment with different foods, drinks, or pill-crushing techniques until you find a solution that makes taking your medication a little easier.

If you continue to struggle with pill swallowing, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. They can offer additional tips or suggest a different medication form.

Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. This article is based on personal experience and the opinions of the writer(s). No information in this article may be taken as a substitute for personalized advice from an appropriately licensed healthcare professional.