Can not swallow large pills, help?

[FLbella]

I decided to take the anti depressant prescribed to me even though I didn't get depressed until I started sub... the problem is that I have a gag reflex from hell.  I can only swallow teeny tiny pills or chew them if tolerable (like aspirin... I can't chew bitter stuff).  

Is there a secret to washing down large capsules?  I am trying to take effexor and  blehhhhhhhhh it's trying to come back up.  I tried numbing my throat with ice chips... no luck.

[FLbella]

That does not sound dumb at all.....  come to think of it, I also do the same thing.  I mean, if I can swallow huge mouthfuls of food, I can swallow a pill.....  my head just makes me do what you do....  sort out the water and pill so the pill tries to stick going down.  I also subconciously clamp my throat down on the pill "mid swallow".  So stupid, such a dumb habit, I wish I didn't have it.

[Gogeyi]

Yes, it disrupts the absorption time of the medication.

If you have any side effects that are more severe earlier after taking the tab then later speak up!

I have experience this most of my life too.  Actually putting it IN jello helped me some.

One thing I noticed in myself, I know it sounds dumb, is I was swallowing the water and THEN trying to swallow the pill.  Like I was sorting it out while swallowing!!  I know it sounds crazy, but I can not be the only one that has subconciouscly done that.

Just a thought.

Greatest of luck.
Gogeyi

[wait2long]

see...ya learn something new here everyday...i would have thought that opening the capsule would have interfered with the XR part...  do you think its the same with all capsules?  thanks...

[FLbella]

Thank you so much.  I called my pharmacy and the head pharmacist wouldnt hear of it, a total jerk.  But I looked up what you said also and the people the make it suggest an alternative way to take it as well.   Sometimes the docs and pharmacists don't know it all.

THANK YOU!!!!

[GA Guy]

I read up on the Effexor XR. It is extended release, but it's not through a mechanism that the capsule itself has anything to do with. Inside of the capsule is a ton of smaller round "sprinkle" looking things. Each one of them is designed to release at different times. That's why you can put it on applesauce and it works just fine. I wouldn't try this if the prescribing notes didn't say it was OK. Effexor XR's prescribing notes suggest the applesauce thing..I didn't make it up :)

[Josh26]

MILK works for me good :)

[wantlifeback]

I used to have that problem but now i can take a handful at a time.  People laugh at me but i put them at the back of my mouth and take drink and at the same time tilt my head back when i am drinking to get them down.  It works for me,,,  good luck

[anotherfinemess]

had to laugh because thats how I give pills to my puppy!

[NautyOne]

ive heard the old thing about covering it butter and it should slip right down.  can't help to get it a try.  Good luck.

Nauty.................

[wait2long]

i am not sure about opening up the capsule and sprinkling into applesauce?  XR means extended release, right?  does the actual capsule have anything to do with the XR part?

and as far as your gag reflex...thats a tough one...the only thing that works for me is just tossong the pill in my mouth and guzzeling alot of liquid until i know its down the hatch...LOL!

  also alexandra fox...i dont think the sub CAUSED your depression...most likely being off your drug of choice, not being high and the changes going on in your life because of the addicxtion have cause your depression..your depression may be actually 10 fold right now had you gone cold turkey and not had the sub to depend on....just a suggestion,
                           oh and hey...good luck with the gag reflex...thats actually a difficult thing...i never had a problem with my gag reflex while in active addiction, but i sure do now and i wonder if its a subconscious thing because my body was so familiar at one point of just swallowing mass amounts of pills, and now i dont have to,,,

[justlikeyou]

yogurt

[lurker]

We used to have patients plug their nose, put the pill in the back of their mouth and drink water thru a straw to swallow the pill. It's almost impossible to gag when you have your nose plugged because it isn't possible to breathe in air.  Give that a try.  Also, you can use yogurt, ice cream, anything soft to swallow the crushed pill or inner part of a capsule.  Just be sure to drink a lot of water afterward.

[GA Guy]

FLbella..I don't think it has to be applesauce per se. You could use peanut butter, jelly, heck..even a spoon-full of spaghetti sauce. The key is to NOT CHEW. Just find something of sauce consistency, sprinkle the contents of the capsule on top, and swallow without chewing.

[FLbella]

Thank you so much GA GUY.... It's late and nobody is open right now that sells applesauce, but I will surely give that a try tomorrow!  I already hacked two capsules back up (in tact) so I give up for tonight.

[GA Guy]

This is right from Effexor XR's Prescribing Notes...

Effexor XR should be administered in a single dose with food either in the morning or in the evening at approximately the same time each day. Each capsule should be swallowed whole with fluid and not divided, crushed, chewed, or placed in water, or it may be administered by carefully opening the capsule and sprinkling the entire contents on a spoonful of applesauce. This drug/food mixture should be swallowed immediately without chewing and followed with a glass of water to ensure complete swallowing of the pellets.

This doesn't work with every med..so check them all first!! You don't want an overdose.

[GA Guy]

Some medications can be safely taken out of their capsules and sprinkled into applesauce and eaten. This will not work for some meds though, especially time release meds.Call and ask your pharmacist if it can be done with Effexor.