I have never been able to swallow pills so to take medicine I open capsules and smash pills. Can you do that and still get results.
Can you dissolve a capsule if you can't swallow a pill?
Question posted by shudabear on 24 Sep 2013
Last updated on 10 February 2022 by ralph68682
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
4 Answers
ralph68682
10 Feb 2022
Can you dissolve Capisette capsules in water and drink it
Vibeme90
8 April 2017
I know this is an old post but I hope you made out ok? Did anything ever happen?
Shainm1
14 Oct 2016
Thanks
Loraines
5 Dec 2016
I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. That means I have a very restricted throat. I've been known to choke all night on a pea. I can only eat soft food and in small bites, or can't swallow. Often choke on egg, bacon, apple, and it is NOT mind over matter than I can't take tablets or capsules.
Now about to be prescribed statins and Metformin. And worried sick.
DzooBaby
24 Sep 2013
You can as long as it is not a time release pill or capsule. If the pill says LA, ER, XL, CR, SR, etc. then it is time release and not crushable or shouldnt be opened. If you are unsure, you should always ask your pharmacist if it is ok to crush or open the capsule. By the life of me, I could never understand why people have trouble swallowing pills when they can swallow a mouthful of food but I know there are people who do. It is a mind over matter thing. If your drugs are long acting and you cant swallow them, you will have to get your Dr to change you to the regular release and take it more often or some drugs come in liquids.
Factfinder411
24 Sep 2013
God dont let the cops find out you crush your pills.
Inactive
25 Sep 2013
Factfindr - you are so right!!! That can cause major problems!!!
MtnClmbr
19 Oct 2014
Most capsules are lighter than water and they used to stick onto the side of my throat or esophagus, if I popped them into my mouth and immediately tried to wash them down with a swallow of water. I learned to put the capsule in my mouth, take a small sip of water and keep it there until it almost dissolves (usually about 30 seconds). Then I take another sip of water and the capsule, now with a slick, softer, smoother, tapering case, goes down easily. Even if the capsule begins to dissolve, you'll know it, so immediately work the capsule toward the back of your tongue, take that second sip of water, and down it goes. The dissolving capsule acts as a smoothing agent to facilitate swallowing when it is soaked to near-dissolve state by a combination of saliva and water. Be careful not to let a capsule completely dissolve in your mouth, because most of them are very bitter.
This method may not work for some pills,but most of them have a coating that quickly dissolves and makes a slick surface, facilitating them to slide down your throat, but I do not keep these coated pills in my mouth as long as I do a capsule, only about 5-10 seconds, because the coating dissolves completely in a few seconds.
OopsieDaisy
16 Jan 2017
"It's not a mind over matter thing" Nor is it hard to understand... it's about the process of chewing releasing saliva that lubricates food... which doesn't happen with capsules.
NaturalWayIsBetter
13 Dec 2017
Here's another tip for those having trouble swallowing - put your chin DOWN toward your chest. It opens the passageway at the back of your throat and makes it easier to swallow. So capsule/etc in your mouth, sip of a beverage, then chin down toward chest, and swallow. It's counter-intuitive, but it works!
Matthew0positive
14 Feb 2018
DzooBaby, there are many reasons why people cannot swallow pills while they can still swallow food. It's not a "mind over matter thing" at all. Moreover, that advice can be quite harmful to someone following it - trying to use their mind to magically fix a problem. From experience, I have been told this "it's mind over matter" garbage for years, as I was never ever able to swallow pills. And then I went to the GI doctor finally, where they diagnosed me with EoE (look it up) and after awakening from the endoscopy, the surgeon asked me how I swallowed anything. It was fixed and I can swallow fine now. But the number of times I tried to use this "mind over matter" Jedi mind trick and ended up getting a pill lodged in my esophagus is now laughable. So, anyone reading this - you're not going crazy and better yet -- you don't have to be anxious about it because it could be something as simple as an allergy or scar tissue from acid reflux. So, May the Force be with you all. :)
Related topics
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.