Difficulty swallowing tablets

[Smithie49]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get larger tablets like Lansoprazole to go down my oesophagus? I can swallow them OK but they get lodged part way down. I take them first thing before eating with a glass of water as prescribed but the get stuck. Even after a warm drink I can feel them. Any suggestions welcome.

[MrsNails]

Have you tried standing up to take them?

[Smithie49 in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks for your idea. I don't stand but I sit upright in bed. I have a problem with dry everything (!!!) So wonder if that is the case internally as well so drying tablets get stuck. 😮

[MrsNails in reply to Smithie49]

It’s just we’re recommended to stand up when taking Alendronic Acid - so that may help with the passage of the tablet to ensure it reaches the stomach.

I have difficulty with round paracetamol so l always have the capulets.

[readingbooks in reply to MrsNails]

Capulets !! My morning smile !

[piglette]

I believe that Lansoprazole has an oral disintegrating tablet. Your pharmacy may also be able to make a liquid for you.

[jinasc]

Do you suffer with stomach problems or is the Lansoprazole given to you because you are taking pred?

[Smithie49 in reply to jinasc]

I have silent reflux but before PMR and ped I managed with just Gavescon

[SheffieldJane]

It does seem to be available in liquid form but whether that includes all parts of the U.K. I don’t know. My husband has trouble with that kind of capsule too. They seem to float about in his gullet and make him choke. Explore solutions with your Pharmacist. ( Google Lansoprazole in liquid suspension).

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Why not speak to the pharmacist and ask what alternative PPIs are like for size? There may be a much smaller tablet.Are you on lansoprazole capsules? And as piglette suggests - there is a dispersible formulation:

"If you have problems swallowing capsules, you can open lansoprazole capsules and mix the granules inside with a little water or fruit juice, or sprinkle them onto soft food, such as yogurt or apple puree, to help you swallow them.

Lansoprazole also comes as dispersible tablets that melt in your mouth."

nhs.uk/medicines/lansoprazo....

[HappyDiamonds]

I have swallowing difficulties and have Lanzoprazole tablets that melt in the mouth, not at all unpleasant to take but they can be a so and so to get out of the foil packaging.

[MrsNails in reply to HappyDiamonds]

Aspirin Foil packaging is my Achilles HeelIt’s got a plastic layer underneath too! Very bad for nail polish 💅🏼 too!

[Hidden in reply to HappyDiamonds]

Don't get me started in tablet packaging! How the hell is an aged person with fumbly arthritic fingers supposed to open these things and finally get them into their mouths without dropping them on the multi coloured carpet where old eyes can't see them!!! Grrrr!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

You should see my bisoprolol tablets - less than 2mm diameter, and I am supposed to cut them!!!! Can barely pick them up!

[Ana-16]

As recommended by my dear mother when I was very young ( many many moons ago) I chew a piece of food until I’m ready to swallow and then pop the pill into the chewed food and swallow. Works for me

[Looby60]

Hi there . I have problems with swallowing pills large or small .

I have to tip my head right back to swallow them .

Works for me .. at least most of the time 👍

[Pegasu]

In this day and age there should be an alternative to tablets. My sister cannot swallow tablets due to choking on a boiled sweet when she was a child. My grandson also cannot swallow tablets due to sensory problems. I have to keep a bottle of Calpol in the house because he can't take paracetamol tablets, and he is 17. He won't take melt in the mouth capsules either. I would speak to your pharmacist as they must know what is available. I'm not sure it is a good idea to open the capsules, I think it mentions that in the leaflet so a liquid would be preferable I think. Good luck.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pegasu]

The NHS recommends opening the capsule and so do many PILs for drugs where it doesn't matter, i;e. not delayed release capsules for example.

[Amkoffee]

A problem with swallowing is called Dysphagia. You should see a gastro Dr who will likely order a swallow test. In the mean time try eating a piece of bread when you feel the pill is stuck. If it is stuck the bread will help push it down. But sometimes it can feel stuck but really isn't.

[AshPen9]

I have problems getting tablets to go down. Sometimes they're still at the back of my throat after several hours. On a couple of occasions recently an enteric coated pred tablet was there so long that I could feel it burning as the coating came off. Have just had a barium swallow and apparently it is due to spasm. My muscles aren't doing a proper job. It can happen in people with reflux (I have that). Been recommended to go to a therapist for swallowing exercises! I have started taking most of my tablets with a mouthful of thick Greek yoghourt, which seems to help.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

Check with your pharmacist whether any are available as liquid formulations. Pills are a very English thing - many items here come as drops or effervecent tablets. When my husband was on chemo he couldn't swallow and I researched to find other options than me crushing every blasted tablet and mixing them with honey!!! Only one of several was available. The GP tried to tell me they weren't an option - but I told the oncology team and they sent everything home as the liquid versions which meant the GP had to comply too! He wasn't a happy bunny - served him right, should have been a bit more helpful with his patient. Never visited, never asked how we were, just obstructive.

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that suggestion PMRpro. Your GP sounds like a bit of a nightmare! If only they were all like the lovely fatherly/headmasterly figures that we remember from our youth. Dr. Hardman was more or less a member of our family, he knew everthing about all of us, no need to look at a record card. So caring, you knew that he had your best interests at heart, but I wouldn't have dared go against him. Don't think my mum or dad would either! You never doubted anything he said and he would come to visit at the drop of a hat. I know they don't have the time these days but.....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

It was 26 years ago and he didn't remain my GP for long believe me - we had a stand-up row when he wouldn't re-refer my just teenage daughter who was depressed, anorexic/bulimic and crying constantly. Hardly surprising but HE didn't consider she was showing all the clinical symptoms. So I headed off to the psychiatric unit to find her former specialist and asked her what to do. SHE diagnosed clinical depression and told me to go to the practice in the other village - Hamish took us on, just me and the girls, as OH wanted to stay with the familiar practice and that is usually frowned on. I filled in the form and was seen just 10 minutes later, I did warn them I had been chucked out of the other practice! His consultations were as long as you required, if you wanted to be quick you saw the junior partner! If he was passing the house he would drop in to see how we all were, OH too even though he wasn't his patient then - he soon changed

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Your daughter fortunate to have a mum strong enough to get her the treatment that she needed. Others maybe not so lucky with that GP.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

I think it was because I had history with him after OH. But all he really wanted to do was play golf - the village has at least 4 local courses - and he was senior partner so could do as he liked really! The best doctor in the practice left - chucked out because the senior partner's wife apparently couldn't stand him either and preferred the "best doctor".

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Probably best playing golf, he could do less damage!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

He'd be made to replace his divots ...

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

😆😆

[Smithie49 in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting. I asked a pharmacist yesterday and he said Lans came in a dispersible form but was more expensive. Can't see that being an option from my GP then! The pharmacist suggested much more water to wash it down and/or the bread some of you have suggested. Many thanks all.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Smithie49]

Tell your GP you find the large lansoprazole impossible to swallow - either you need a lower dose and twice as many or the dispersible version. Either way - cheaper than it would cost if you end up in hospital with gastric problems He isn't paying ...

[HappyDiamonds in reply to Smithie49]

I hate to say it but I have dispersable Pred as well, 5mg Pink ones that dissolve in water and I call my Pink Gin 😀. They are super expensive and I was on 12 of them a day at first. My GP tried every which way not to let me have them but the Hospital leaned on her. The problem for me will start when I go down to 4mg as then it will be 4 tablets to swallow, will be buying greek yoghurt by the bucketful.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HappyDiamonds]

Couldn't you cut them and dissolve part of it?

[HappyDiamonds in reply to PMRpro]

Certainly worth a go as not every tablet I have to take can be dissolved and 4 more is a worry. Ive had esophagitis a few times due to tablets not going down and don't need it again on top of everything else.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HappyDiamonds]

I get enough discomfort from taking capsules - so you have my sympathy for that!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Its amazing how many doctors have no empathy for patients. Some of 'em should have studied welding instead!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Some of them would make a major mess of that!!! I always say they should have been pathologists - no patient contact or the subject is dead ...

[HappyDiamonds in reply to Hidden]

True, they make the very worst patients too!

[Suffererc]

I was given 15mg. Had the same problem 😋

[Suffererc in reply to Suffererc]

I was given 15 mg instead of 30ng. Much smaller

[Tiggy70]

I’m not sure if this will help you but maybe worth a try. If I have a very large pill to swallow I fill my mouth with water, hold it in my mouth and then push the tablet between my lips into my mouth. I then swallow. The tablet usually goes down well with the rush of water.

[Researchfreak]

I open them up and mix with yoghurt

[Hidden]

Try listening to about 3 politicians for an hour each. After that, you'll swallow anything!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

No I wouldn't - I'd be gagging ... If you want to be less political - try sorting a problem with a PAYG phone on a Vodafone chat bot ... I nearly have steam coming out of my ears! There is an element of amusement mind you - glad I'm not paying for a phone call though ...