You are viewing the article How to Take Medicines at Tnhelearning.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.
X
This article was co-written by Ronn Callada, RN, MS. Ronn Callada, ANP, RN is a registered nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He received his MS from Stony Brook University School of Nursing in 2013.
There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 16,533 times.
Many adults and children often have difficulty in taking medication, even though it may sound like an easy task. The fear of choking causes your throat to tighten to keep the pill in your mouth until you spit it out. Fortunately, there are many methods to help you deal with the problem so that you can relax, and overcome the fear of choking. To make it easier to take the pill, try swallowing the tablet with soft food or plenty of liquid. If the usual methods don’t work, you can try some special swallowing techniques that keep your throat open long enough for the pill to slip down. If you’re still having trouble swallowing, talk to your doctor about taking it in other forms, such as liquid, patch, or suppository.
Steps
Take medicine with food
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/72/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-1-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-1-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/72/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-1-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-1-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Eat bread. If you’re going to take a pill and the pill can’t seem to get down your throat, eat a piece of bread. Tear off a small piece of bread and chew it in your mouth until you are about to swallow it. Before swallowing, place the tablet in the amount of bread in your mouth. Then close your mouth and swallow the food with the pill. The pill will easily float down the throat. [1] X Research Source
- You can also use regular donuts, crackers, or cookies. They also have a texture similar to bread and can make it easier to swallow pills and food.
- You can also drink an extra glass of water immediately afterwards to make it easier for the medicine to move down the stomach.
- Some medicines need to be taken before eating. Check the instructions for the medication you are taking to see if you need to take it without food.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/91/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-2-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-2-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/91/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-2-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-2-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Cut a marshmallow. To make it easier to take the pill, you can put the pill inside a bear-shaped gummy. Make a small cut on the belly of the marshmallow bear. Then put the medicine inside. Eat marshmallows, but remember not to chew; Some medications can change how long they take to work when chewed. You just need to swallow the candy, then quickly drink water. [2] X Research Source
- This method can be difficult for you if you are unable to swallow a marshmallow. You will probably need to practice several times.
- This remedy is especially effective for children. Hiding the pill in a bear-shaped gummy will help your child take the pill with peace of mind.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b1/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-3-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-3-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b1/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-3-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-3-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Place the medicine in honey or peanut butter. You can take the pill with honey or peanut butter because they help the pill slide down the throat easily. Use a spoonful of honey or peanut butter. Then place the tablet in the center of the mixture on the spoon. Make sure you submerge the medicine in the mixture, then swallow the whole spoonful of honey or peanut butter that comes with the pill. Finally, drink more water. [3] X Research Sources
- You need to drink water before and after using this method. Honey and peanut butter are usually quite thick and they will probably move quite slowly down the throat. Moisturizing your throat before and after using this remedy can help you swallow the mixture faster and without causing choking.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/12/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-4-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-4-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/12/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-4-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-4-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Use soft foods. If you can’t take your medicine with bread, try adding it to soft foods, such as apple sauce, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, or jelly. This is a common method often used by hospitals for patients who have difficulty swallowing. Prepare a small plate of food. Put the pill in the food. Eat some food before you reach the piece of food that contains the pill. Then eat that piece of food. You will be able to swallow the medicine more easily. [4] X Research Sources
- Remember not to chew the pill.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4f/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/4f/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Practice in advance with a small candy. One of the main reasons people have trouble taking their medicine is that their throat reacts to the presence of the medicine, causing the muscles in the throat to tense up. To overcome this situation, you can practice swallowing a small candy so that your throat gets used to swallowing something whole without choking or injury. Use a small candy such as small colored candies, mini M&M chocolates, or Nerd candies. Put the candies in your mouth as you would with the pills and drink them with water. Repeat until you are comfortable with their size.
- Next, switch to a larger size candy such as Skittle, regular M&M, Jelly Belly, or Tic Tac. Repeat the same technique until you are comfortable with the size of the candy. [5] X Research Sources
- Practice every day for about 10 minutes until you can swallow a piece of candy similar in size and shape to the pill you are supposed to take.
- This method will also help young children take medicine. But you need to remember to explain to the children that taking medicine is a very important act and should not think that medicine is like candy.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fe/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-6-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-6-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fe/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-6-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-6-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Eat tangerines. Try to swallow a mandarin orange. After you get used to it, insert the pill inside the citrus and swallow it whole. The smooth texture of tangerine will help the medicine move down the throat easily. [6] X Research Source
- Drink water after taking this measure to ensure that the medicine can completely slide down the stomach easily.
Take medicine with liquid
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/0e/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-7-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-7-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/0e/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-7-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-7-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Take a sip of cool water. When taking the medicine, you need to make sure that your throat is supplied with as much moisture as possible so that the medicine can move easily. Drink a few sips of water before taking the medicine. Place the pill near the base of your tongue, then drink water until you can swallow the tablet whole.
- Drink a few more sips of water after the medicine has slipped down your throat so that it can easily move to your stomach.
- You should use cool water or water that is similar to room temperature, but not too cold or too hot. [7] X Research Sources
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/ae/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-8-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-8-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/ae/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-8-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-8-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Use the double-swallow method. Place the tablet on the tongue. Take a large sip of water and swallow, but do not swallow the pill. Next, take a second sip of water and swallow the water with the medicine. Then, take one last sip of water to help the medicine move easily.
- After the first sip of water, your throat will open wide, allowing the medicine to slide down your throat, and the second sip won’t cause your throat to open any wider. [8] X Research Sources
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e3/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-9-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-9-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e3/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-9-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-9-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Use a straw. For many people, using a straw to drink water or soft drinks helps the pill to move down the throat more easily. Place the medicine near the base of the tongue. Use a straw to drink some liquid and swallow it with the pill. Continue to take a few more sips of water after you have swallowed the medicine to help it pass into the stomach.
- The act of drawing water into your mouth through a straw will make it easier for you to swallow. [9] X Research Source[10] X Research Source
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1a/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1a/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Drink plenty of water before taking the medicine. Many people feel that drinking plenty of water helps the pill to move more easily. Take a full sip of water. Open the corner of your lip just enough to get the medicine inside your mouth. Next, swallow a full mouthful of water and the medicine at the same time.
- If you have a feeling that the medicine is stuck in your throat, you can drink more water after swallowing the medicine.
- Fill the oral cavity with about 80% water. If you drink too much water, it will be difficult for you to swallow all of the water at once and this will make this method less effective.
- You will probably feel water or the pill in your throat. This state will not provoke your vomiting response and is completely harmless.
- You can use soft drinks instead of water. [11] X Research Source
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/19/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-11-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-11-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/19/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-11-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-11-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Help young children take medicine. Children 3 years old can take the pill. At this age, your child will have a hard time understanding the act of swallowing pills or will be afraid of choking. If this is the case, guide your child to understand what’s going on. One simple method you can use to help your child take medicine is to give him a glass of water and ask him to hold the water in his mouth while looking up at the ceiling. Put the tablet in the child’s mouth and wait until the tablet moves to the throat. After a few minutes, ask the child to swallow, and the tablet with water will move down the child’s throat. [12] X Research Source
- You can use the medication method with food or drink to help your child take the medicine unless this is not appropriate.
Use substitution technique
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/01/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-12-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill- Step-12-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/01/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-12-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-12-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Use the “tu chai” (pop-bottle) method. Put water in a plastic bottle. Place the medicine on the tongue. Next, close your lips tightly over the mouth of the water bottle. Tilt your head back and drink water. Maintain a tight grip on the mouth of the bottle and use suction to drink the water. The water and medicine will move down your throat.
- Do not let air get inside the bottle when you drink water.
- This method will be more effective when you use to swallow large tablets. [13] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source[14] X Research Source
- The act of sucking water will open up your throat and make it easier for you to swallow pills.
- This method is for adults only and should not be used by children.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d9/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-13. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d9/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step- 13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}
Practice the “bowing” method. For this method, you first need to put the pill on your tongue. Next, take a sip of water but do not swallow. Bow your head forward. Let the capsule float down your throat and then swallow it.
- This method will be highly effective when used for capsules. [15] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source[16] X Research Source
- You can also use this method for your child. After your child has had a mouthful of water, ask him or her to look at the floor while you quickly put the capsule in his or her mouth. The medicine will float on the water in the child’s mouth and the child will be able to swallow both the water and the medicine. [17] X Research Source
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/86/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-14. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/86/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step- 14.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}
Relax. Anxiety is also an important factor preventing you from swallowing pills. Relaxation is essential. If you are nervous, your body will go into a state of muscle tension and it will be difficult for you to take your medicine. To prevent this, you need to relax. Sit down, grab a glass of water, and do whatever makes you feel less anxious. Find a quiet place, listen to calming music, or meditate.
- This will help calm your nerves and break the link between medication and stress so you don’t get nauseous.
- If you’re having a hard time, you can talk to a psychologist so he or she can help you overcome your anxiety about taking medication. [18] X Research Sources
- If you’re trying to help your child take medicine, calm her down by distracting her before asking her to take the medicine. Read stories to your child, play games with them, or find activities to help them relax before asking them to take their medicine. The calmer the child is, the easier it will be to take the medicine.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/ff/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-15. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/ff/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step- 15.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}
Allay your fears. You may be afraid that the pill won’t fit in your throat, especially if the pill is quite large. To get rid of this fear, stand in front of a mirror. Open your mouth and say “ahhhhh.” This will make you aware of how big your throat is and let you know that the pill will be able to get through it completely. [19] X Research Source
- You can also use a mirror to place the medicine on your tongue. The closer you place the tablet to the base of your tongue, the shorter the distance it has to travel before you swallow it.
- You can also use this method on your child if he or she is afraid of choking while taking the medicine. Work with your child to let him or her know that you understand their fear, but remember to try to convince them that there is nothing to fear.
{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/01/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step-16. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/01/Swallow-a-Pill-Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Swallow-a-Pill-Step- 16.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}
Find other alternative medicines. Many medicines are made in different forms. You’ll likely find the medication you’re taking as a liquid, patch, cream, inhaler, suppository, or water-soluble medication. Talk to your doctor about other options, especially if you’re having trouble taking your pills, even if you’ve tried everything. [20] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- Do not use another medicine or find another way to take it unless your doctor tells you to. Tablets should not be crushed so they can be dissolved in water or administered in a suppository fashion. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication regimen.
Advice
- Look for pills that have an outer coating. They move more easily down the throat, and they often taste pretty bad if you leave them on your tongue for too long.
- Try taking it with a soft drink or other flavored water. They will help remove the taste of the medicine. However, some medicines should not be taken with soft drinks or juices. Consult your doctor if you are interested in this method.
- All of the methods listed in this article can be used to help young children take medicine except those that have been noted not to be used in young children. Make sure you are well aware of the size of the food your child will eat.
- Minimize the time the medication stays on the tongue. You should get in the habit of putting the medicine on your tongue and drinking water quickly.
- You can also use a banana that has been chewed in your mouth to replace the water.
- Use liquid or jelly pills to make it easier to swallow.
- Do not crush the medicine unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to. Some medications can lose their effectiveness if they are crushed or released too soon. [21] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source
Warning
- Real medicine should not be used for practice or for play.
- Keep medicine out of reach of children. Many medicines are formulated with special flavors to make them taste better. Young children often like these flavors, leading to consuming them in excess. Never tell young children that medicine is candy.
- Always consult your doctor or pharmacist when you want to use any liquid other than water to take your medicine. Many drugs can lose their effectiveness, or even cause unwanted side effects, when mixed with specific beverages or foods. For example, some antibiotics should never be taken with dairy products.
- If you’re still having trouble taking your pills, you may have dysphagia, a swallowing disorder. Please consult your doctor about this condition. However, it’s important to remember that people with dysphagia often have difficulty swallowing food, not just pills.
- Do not take the medicine while lying down. Sit or stand up. [22] X Research Source
X
This article was co-written by Ronn Callada, RN, MS. Ronn Callada, ANP, RN is a registered nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He received his MS from Stony Brook University School of Nursing in 2013.
There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 16,533 times.
Many adults and children often have difficulty in taking medication, even though it may sound like an easy task. The fear of choking causes your throat to tighten to keep the pill in your mouth until you spit it out. Fortunately, there are many methods to help you deal with the problem so that you can relax, and overcome the fear of choking. To make it easier to take the pill, try swallowing the tablet with soft food or plenty of liquid. If the usual methods don’t work, you can try some special swallowing techniques that keep your throat open long enough for the pill to slip down. If you’re still having trouble swallowing, talk to your doctor about taking it in other forms, such as liquid, patch, or suppository.
Thank you for reading this post How to Take Medicines at Tnhelearning.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.
Related Search: