# Can You Swallow Pills **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805 "2010-03-25T22:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/41 "2010-03-26T17:37:57Z")
I can swallow any pill without water. But that stopped last night after reading **wolfman** ’s post. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![purple\_cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@purple\_cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_cow)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/42 "2010-03-26T18:32:51Z")
A trick i use when i’m having trouble is to make a chewing motion with my mouth. “Chew” a few times (withou actually chewing the pill) then swallow just as if you’re eating. It overcomes the psychological problem quite nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/43 "2010-03-26T18:38:34Z")
> [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > this is also why I don’t take vitamins. > > I just can’t face the thought of a pill every freakin’ day of my life. :eek: > > If they made adult versions of Flinstones chewable vitamins I would so be on board. There are plenty of adult chewable multivitamins out there - I buy mine at Trader Joe’s. I don’t think you’d do yourself any harm by just taking a regular multivitamin and crushing it, either. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/44 "2010-03-26T18:43:33Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > There are plenty of adult chewable multivitamins out there - I buy mine at Trader Joe’s. I don’t think you’d do yourself any harm by just taking a regular multivitamin and crushing it, either. They also make adult multivitamin gummies. I take “One-A-Day VitaCraves.” They’re pretty tasty. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/45 "2010-03-26T18:45:19Z")
I have to take 12 prescription tablets or capsules every day, so I’d better be able to swallow pills! I guess it’s a matter of practice makes perfect. For one medical procedure I even needed to swallow a tiny camera contained within a capsule. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/46 "2010-03-26T19:35:37Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > For one medical procedure I even needed to swallow a tiny camera contained within a capsule. Wow I’m glad I never had to do that. I couldn’t. I’d just have to die ---
**Author:** ![nicole1912](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@nicole1912](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicole1912)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/47 "2010-03-26T19:52:24Z")
Now I can, but I used to not be able to, not even the Pill, which is tiny. That’s what made me start being able to, actually, for obvious reasons - once I knew I could take those, I could take different ones, like painkillers - fizzy water or coke or other fizzy drinks helped a lot. Now I can take giant multivitamins with juice and not gag, so I think I’m cured, ish… (I, too, had to take chloroquine and proguanil during my process-of-learning-to-take-pills - I was only partly successful at this - it’s lucky I wasn’t in a very malarial area, really…) ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/48 "2010-03-26T21:10:48Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > For one medical procedure I even needed to swallow a tiny camera contained within a capsule. A friend of mine at work had that done as well. Since we’re both serious geeks, I asked him if he kept it, and of course he did. I know I would have—it’s way cooler than keeping your pulled wisdom teeth. I almost asked him to bring it in. Surely he cleaned it spotless, but… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/49 "2010-03-26T21:31:03Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I can swallow giant multi vitamins with NO WATER! I do that with Advil. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/50 "2010-03-26T21:36:29Z")
With a big gulp of water I can swallow a handful of pills without a problem. I do this every day. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/51 "2010-03-26T22:17:08Z")
Nope. I realize it’s probably psychological (I manage to swallow food), but I can’t do it. I take my medicines in liquid form or chew the pills. It’s worked for 40+ years, and has actually gotten easier over time as the growing elderly population leads to more and more chewable and/or liquid formulations. (I’m generally healthy and only take a couple of maintenance drugs, so that helps, too). I presume I’d learn if it became an issue, but so far it’s much more of a personal quirk than an inconvenience. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/52 "2010-03-26T22:24:34Z")
I take a small handful of vitamins/supplements daily and do it all in one gulp. Must have plenty of liquid (usually juice) to get them down. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/53 "2010-03-26T23:14:06Z")
Easily. My trick, I put about 1-2 oz of water (w/o swallowing) in my mouth before I take the pill. Then I tipped my head back, drop the pill and then swallow in one big gulp. Shot-gunning beer was a big help when swallowing large volumes of water. Or the drink of choice. ---
**Author:** ![Pigs\_in\_Space](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@Pigs\_in\_Space](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pigs_in_Space)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/54 "2010-03-27T05:42:40Z")
> [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > this is also why I don’t take vitamins. > > I just can’t face the thought of a pill every freakin’ day of my life. :eek: > > If they made adult versions of Flinstones chewable vitamins I would so be on board. I just take actual Flintstones. If they had a gummy with iron, I’d take that, but I have yet to find them. I can swallow pills if I have to, but avoid it whenever possible. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/55 "2010-03-27T07:11:30Z")
I’ve never been able to swallow pills of any size, unless I eat solid food afterwards to push the damn thing down, which is a no-no with some medications. The pill just rolls around on the top of the throat, not sinking in no matter how I try. Need to try some of the tricks mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/56 "2010-03-28T02:24:18Z")
In the baking section of the grocery store they sell miniscule M&Ms designed for use in cookies or something. My kids learned to swallow pills by practicing with these mini M&Ms. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/57 "2010-03-28T08:14:39Z")
Not really. I can successfully swallow the occasional pill, but mostly I keep failing with the pill dissolving in my mouth. If I really need to take it, I’ll chew it to get it down. Great idea with the Tic-Tacs and M&Ms. I might try that. I’ve always been slightly embarrassed by not being able to do a seemingly simple thing. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/58 "2010-03-28T08:53:30Z")
Yes. Always with liquid assistance, though. Occasionally some unusually-shaped or -sized one might cause some initial problems, but after a couple of swigs it goes down fine. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/59 "2010-03-28T10:00:11Z")
Can I? in a hot minute. The trick is to put the pill towards the back of your mouth and then knock back your liquid like a shot of booze. In my other life as a camp nurse, I’ve worked with many a 6 y/o that took 10-20 pills a day. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805/60 "2010-03-28T22:29:21Z")
I take anywhere from 8-10 pills every morning - can pop them all in my mouth and swallow them in one go. I have even recently been able to swallow pills with no liquid - had to do that a couple times with a pain reliever. I carry them on my keychain, but didn’t have anything to take them with. Wish I could share my skill with my wife and stepson. They both have serious problems with pill swallowing. We’ve gotten my stepson the gummies mentioned earlier in the thread, but no solution yet for my wife and her daily multi-vitamins… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-swallow-pills/533805.md?page=4)