Need help: Choking on nasty tasting pills.

I would like to know any/all of your tips and secrets about getting a pill down quick and painlessly.  Preferably tastelessly, as well.

 

I have never had problems taking pills; medications or vitamins.  They slide right down.  If they are coated, I can swallow them with no water.  If they are 'dry', I can get them down with just a bit of water, shaking the floating caplets at the top of the water in my mouth by bending over a bit so when I swallow, the pill goes first.  With dry pills, I shake them to the back of my throat with my face pointed towards the ceiling and then swallowing quickly so the water chases them down.  The dry/powdery little imodium caplets would dissolve quickly and I'd need to swallow fast so I wouldn't get that taste in my mouth.  Usually I am successful, but if not, I'd just drink a bit more water to flush the taste out of my mouth.  No biggie.

The problem I am having is with my Promethazine anti-nausea tablets.  These babies taste terrible!  Cut in halves or quarters are a bit worse because they begin to dissolve a little quicker and they really taste nasty and the flavor lingers. 

Last night was the third time I've had this particular problem:  I swallow, and the darn pill gets sort of stuck/lodged at an area of my throat that I cannot reach (like just an inch or so beyond where the gag reflex would be) and then stays there until they dissolve.  I am coughing, massaging my throat, gagging, bending over and hacking and swallowing a waterfall of liquid and nothing helps!  I then have a 'burned spot' that remains sore for a day or so.  Very similar to a sore throat like when your glands are swollen, but just a little lower.

I found a diagram of the throat and it appears the pill is getting stuck around either the epiglotis folds, the very back of the tongue or just above the larynx.

Is there any trick I can use so I don't experience this again? 

I swear, I am a step away from coating the pill in butter and using my cat's pill-gun tonight!

I am so frustrated, I am about ready to use the cat-pill-gun for myself and start giving myself the pills that way.  I wonder if the scruff-hold will work or if I should wrap myself up in a blanket, burrito style, have the husband sit on me and when I open my mouth to yowl, he can shoot the pill down the hatch?!

Heidi

how about using the melt away zofran? You might have some swelling in your throat...

you cracked me up. have you ever seen the "how to give a cat a pill" email? can you have your husband wrap you in a towel? I had a cat on meds and no matter WHAT I did, he somehow kept them in his mouth and then stuck them to the floor, ugh!
sorry, I have no great answer. a different med or smaller dosage?? yp

Wow I take Phenergan every night and never have had an issue with it tasting bad or getting stuck. And whats weird is I take about 12 or so other pills at the same time with no problem. The one that gets me all the time was Pred when I was on it. Those taste like YUCK!! Only thing I can think of is like Fallcolors says, and to put it with something smooth foodwise to help. Good luck!

The tip of putting water in your mouth, tilting your head back, dropping the pill in and then swallowing is great for bad-tasting pills. Taking them with orange juice may also help hide the taste, if you can drink OJ.

It sounds as if you're accustomed to taking your pills with as little water as possible. I'd suggest you try taking these with more water to get them down. Pills dissolving in your esophagus can damage the lining and start real problems.

Good luck! Those of us with IBD become professional pill swallowers, but every once in a while we meet one that threatens to defeat us.

I think my problem may be a combination of a lack of water and a stick-y tablet.
I will adjust and drink more water when swallowing pills AND I will be picking up some fruit roll-ups to wrap around those nasty promethazine tablets.

*and a 'thanks' for the reminder of the nasty prednisone pills! I'd forgotten about them!

...and yes, I have read the how to pill a cat/dog!...which is hilarious, btw. I am also a member at a Cat Forum and I've posted tips/tricks for getting pills down reluctant (chainsaw) cats safely. That was why I'd made that crack about using their piller on me, tonight!
I've had Zofran, but at the time it was ineffective. I may be able to give it another shot, I'll give my Dr a call and ask.

Thank you all, for helping me come up with ideas to make these bitter pills go down easier.
heidi

Okay, how many pills can you all swallow at one time? I can do about 10. But I can't swallow even one with out water. Yuck!

fruit roll ups, fruit by the foot, and swedish fish are all good at hiding pills in. They are pliable enough and are easy to wrap areound pills. The "mini" swedish fish are almost a large pill size, and a small pill can easily be tucked in.

Put it in a spoon of yogurt or other thick substance so you can easily swallow in one bite without hurting your throat or tasting anything. That's how I had to get my prednisone down at first...I cannot stand when it gets stuck on my tongue or on the top of my throat...

try honey :)

I used to hate taking pills because they would hang up half way down, and you'd get that Arm+Hammer baking soda taste in your mouth and throat...
Now I've mastered the big swallow, which is eleven on the tongue,walk over to the kitchen sink,bend over,
turn on faucet,and put face in the stream of water, and suck...(no more vitamins for me)
11-9-9. I can get the Pentasa to hang off the tip of my tongue...(like a wind chime)

pb4 said...
try honey :)

0_o  I just went to the cupboard and had a big spoonful.  Now the burning sensation in my throat is GONE.  Thanks!

Popper, I don't think I can drink from the faucet (too proper of a mother) but I can use a bigger glass of water to chase everything down.

It's been about 30 min and my throat STILL feels great!

Fitz, that is another great tip. Baking Soda neutralizes acid.