Water water everywhere... and how many drops to drink?

[Astrido]

I take levo in the morning with water. I have read different thoughts on how much water to take the tablets with. One post said "don't drink too much water with your tablets because then it will not be absorbed by your digestive system" and another one ages ago said "drink lots of water with your tablets".

Is there any guidance on how much water to drink with the tablets? I normally drink a gulp of water with the tablet and then nothing else for an hour. Would it be better to drink as little as possible? Several pints? 😉 What does everyone think....

[FallingInReverse]

I drink enough so it doesn’t get stuck in my throat. Sometimes that’s no water. Sometimes a few gulps.

[tattybogle]

to quote my grumpy Dad " you're trying to swallow it , not bluddy drown it "

[jgelliss in reply to tattybogle]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[helvella Administrator]

The lots of water mantra seemed to appear around the time there was a novel formulation in the USA.

There were reports to the FDA that some people had the tablets stick in their throats because they positively puffed up significantly even with almost no water.

The manufacturer and FDA advised a decent glass of water to avoid that.

Thereafter, "lots of water" was repeated regardless the product being taken.

I agree that a modest amount of water is fine. And lots (i.e. even a full tumbler) might be a bad idea except for that specific USA product.

[Obsdian]

I drink what is needed to get it down which isn't much.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Years ago I worked with a lady whose husband was a scientist with a big local pharmaceutical company. One afternoon when we had finished work I watched her taking what turned out to be an antibiotic before going to her dentist.

She swallowed it with about a pint of water - such a large glass I commented on it and she said her husband (who basically knew a thing or two about pills) would never take any tablets without taking a huge glass of water.

That made me think because I used to take things like aspirin with what varied between a mouthful of water to just as much saliva as I could muster - now I follow her example and wash any tablets I take down with at least 500 mls of cold water. So I would go for a decent amount to wash whatever you are taking right down.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

it’s a small tumbler for me, I’m usually gasping with a dry mouth when I wake up in a fugg to the alarm 🤣

[carer999]

I take 250 ml to ensure the tablet reaches my stomach. I don't want it sticking part way down. The stomach has acid to dissolve the tablet.