Simple trick makes it easier to take medication This is how you swallow large tablets

Tips for taking medication: Do not be afraid of large tablets

Painkillers, cholesterol or hypotensives, blood thinners: Millions of patients in Germany depend on the regular intake of medication. But some people get a gag or a swallow when they need to take large pills. A simple trick can help them get the medicine down.

Swallowing problems with the medication

According to an older study, every German consumes an average of 1.5 medicines a day. But many people get a gag or a swallow when they need to take large pills. Every tenth person concerned with such swallowing problems therefore waives the medication, reports the health insurance Barmer in a message. There are tricks that can make taking easier.

Some people have such large swallowing problems when taking large tablets that they do not use the medicine. A simple trick can help them get the remedy down. (Image: monropic / fotolia.com)

Simple trick helps swallow large pills

"Patients who have problems with tablet swallowing often think too much about possible difficulties in swallowing and so unconsciously block it," explains Heidi Günther, pharmacist at Barmer.

"In this case, it can help to make it clear in advance that you often swallow larger bites when eating," says the expert.

In particular, people who have to take several pills a day at the same time often have problems.

You should ask the doctor for alternatives when swallowing. Many active ingredients are also available in the form of drops, juice or as an orodispersible tablet, which melts directly on the tongue. This is also beneficial for taking medication for children.

Moisten oral mucosa

If there is no alternative to the tablet, you should take a drink before the actual intake to moisten the oral mucosa. This makes the tablet easier to glide.

In addition, you should drink at least 200 milliliters of liquid so that no drug sticks to the throat or esophagus.

The most suitable is tap water. Drinks such as coffee, juice or milk, however, can influence the effectiveness of the product.

Do not mix certain medications with dairy products or fruit juices

Unless there is nothing to say against it from a pharmaceutical point of view, the tablet can also be taken with some chewed bread or a crushed banana.

However, this is not allowed with every tablet, because some medicines do not work well with certain foods. An example of this are some antibiotics that should not be mixed with yogurt or quark.

Grapefruit should not be combined with certain medicines. Instructions may be given by the attending physician or pharmacist.

Do not divide big tablets better

The same applies to the sharing of tablets. "Not every groove on a tablet is a breaking point, some are actually just adornment," says Günther.

"You should only divide pills if expressly permitted in the package leaflet. If the preparation is not intended for this purpose, under certain circumstances the effect may be lost or, on the contrary, even more active ingredient may enter the body than in the complete state, "explains the pharmacist.

Another tip: Do not take medication while lying down. Because this makes it difficult to transport the drug into the stomach. (Ad)