has anyone ever gotten over fear of swallowing pills?

[BethanySublime]

i am SO sick of my inability to swallow pills!!  i'm 19 years old and still can't do it for the life of me!  due to certain health problems, i have been trying to eat really healthy to boost my immune system which plays the biggest part in fighting my sickness, and eating healthy is helping, but there are so many supplements that would just magnify my efforts so much.  but i can't for the life of me get over the fear of choking on a pill.  (it probably doesn't help that the 1 time i finally learned how a few years ago & was taking supplements for a couple weeks, i DID choke & puke & haven't swallowed a thing whole since).  even a couple years ago my parents gave me HUGE insentive that if i could just learn they would send me to my home state to visit friends for a while.  i tried hard as hell!  i started with things so small as SPRINKLES and a very positive attitude, but believe it or not, i couldn't even conquer them!  the best i could do was swallow a quarter of a piece of diced peaches after letting it sit in my mouth for at least 3 minutes.  it's THAT bad!!  i know it's all in my head, but it is NOT something i can just "think away."  19 years of compounding fear and i feel like i will never be able to get over this...but my life would be SOOOOOOO much better if i just could!  has anyone else had this issue and conquered it?  i would LOVE to know how!!

[KDBG]

I also have trouble swallowing pills and I always feel ashamed of myself for not being able to do it. I'm 20 years old and can't swallow any pills that are either medium to large sizes. Small pills are just fine for me but long wider pills are terrifying. I haven't over come the fear yet. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. And don't feel ashamed. Bc I've realized that you shouldn't feel bad about it. Some people just can't take pills! I've been taking some antibiotics that are capsules and not sure if I'm suppose to open them or not but what I do is I open them and put them in a small bowl of ice cream. Luckily the pill isn't a nasty tasting kind of supplement. So you don't taste it at all. But I usually get uti's a lot so I always get prescribed with horrifying horse pills. I cut those in half and that actually helps me take them. But I'm still terrified of pills. Just try to find better alternatives to taking them and don't worry about what anyone says. Do what makes you feel comfortable! Sorry this probably wasn't much help. Take care!

[Hikaru_Light]

I think I just got over my fear, I chewed up a tater tot, and popped the pill (after I broke it in half, cause it's pretty long) into the chewed up tater tot and swallowed. It helped me but I don't know if it was just for that one time or not, I'll try later. :)

[snoozoons]

I don't think it's a pill issue but a anxiety/stress issue. Get some therapy and strangely enough some Prozac. You may also wanna seek some help from an ENT ( ear nose n throat ) doc. May be  acid reflux related. I'm not even being a **** either cuz I've experienced  it all and feel for ya.

[phobia79]

Wow, there are a lot of us out there. It's good to know I'm not the only one. I choked a few times as a kid and I think that's what started my fear of choking. The first time I took a pill I did it without too many issues but the fear was always there. I started taking birth control pills and again I didn't have a problem but then I started fearing for some reason. A few years ago I decided I would take an Advil whole and I ended up choking on it. Now I can't seem to swallow anything whole. I've been chewing pills, but tonight I just got pills that cannot be chewed or broken up and I don't know what to do. It's funny I had been thinking of hypnosis only to find out other people here have too. I just spent $160.00 on these pills so I'd better learn to swallow them whole. I might try that ice cream trick. It sounds like a tasty way to do it.

[Yoli36]

Crush every pill and put it into water........

[alex809]

ACH I have such a terrible fear of swallowing pills! It's getting ridiculous. I'm only 12, but I'm so afraid to do it! My Mom says it's ridiculous and she just throws the pills out and gets angry at me if I don't swallow them. But I gag on them, and I spit them out and chew them into tiny chunks. But some of them, like Imodium, tastes TERRIBLE! And it ***** because I just realized I'm allergic to soft serve, which upsets my tummy, and if I want to eat it I have to take a pill. GRRR when will I get over this? Even with food or water my throat closes and it just says, "No. Not gonna happen." It ***** because I see all my friends taking pills with ease...and I hate it! Help?

[Rmc1904]

I'm trying to get over this fear aswell. I wish i could just take it like most other people, i've tried so many times but my reflex is too strong and when i know the pill is in my mouth i actually can't swallow! My parents and friends shout at me when i'm trying to take one and call me pathetic which doesn't help. I might try a hypnotherapist an see if they can help me.

[barbaroes]

im 12 and im terrified of taking these cough pill thingies. i know i hve to get over my fear but im afraid if i takenthe pill whole ill chike. so i cut it into FOURS god. i sometimes throw them out cuz im so scred o them. well not that im scared. my tounge is just like no! and it shoots the pill up against the top of my mouth. its wierd becuz i used to take motrin when i was youner i think but t was a pill and it went down easy. but f insay put it in water or aometin teyll say no becuz they want me to learn. i hate coughs so mich. making me suffer!!!

[lisnbo]

I'm 48 and have never been comfortable taking pills.  If I can feel it in my mouth I can't swallow it.  Yet I can swallow three capsules at once.  I think it is because they float in my mouth.  My kids laugh at me.  I need to be alone, in a quiet room (with a sink), and really concentrate on swallowing.  But even then sometimes it just wont go.  I gag, spit it out, get frustrated and try again later.  When I think about cutting them in half...I worry that the sharp edge will slice my throat open....I know that's not even possible...but fears are never reasonable.   I have no advice....but for everyone..it's GREAT to know we are not alone.

[annalawny]

I am nearly 60 and have had pill issues for over 20 years.  I choked on an aspirin, and my husband did the heimlich maneuver, which is why I"m here to write about it!  Since then, I have had extreme difficulty - to the point of seeking pediatric meds because they're liquid, and so on.  I don't advocate your doing that - I advocate your seeing your doctor about it and asking about it if you haven't already.  Each person handles pill taking differently, and as I"m not a doctor and know nothing about your reasons for your inability to swallow pills, I can't offer any concrete suggestions as to what to try, but I will say what has helped ME - there may be tips or techniques to help you with swallowing, but you should ask your doc about these.  Also, ask your pharmacist if the pills you must take are those which can be cut in half or even crushed - there are cutters and crushers on the market for this purpose - trust me.  I know that!  Caution, however, is in order - if you are doing that, be sure to ask the doctor / pharmacist before cutting pills, because some of them are 'time-release' and if you don't take them whole, you're getting too great a dose up front, which can have serious consequences.  I did that with a capsule once, and omg.  It wasn't pretty!  I had a pituitary problem and the doctor told me I would just have to learn how to take them, as I had to have them.  Eventually, I was able to take them.  I have also had to take BP pills, and now anxiety meds.  I consider the pharmacists good friends, because they feel my pain, and can advise me on the best strategy.  Your doc should also understand and try to help you work this out.  At the end of the day, be upfront w/ your healthcare providers about your issues and do what they say.  Don't be 'embarrassed.'  Some of the coolest people on here have problems with pill swallowing!  (Lmao.)  Good luck - it's all good.

[Resilience]

Try stuffing the pill in banana slice and then start chewing around the pill (try forgetting about the pill, I know that if you have a phobia that is extremely difficult but it is important). Then start swallowing bits of the banana and swallow the pill with the remains of the banana! Voila! There went the pill!

I'm still terrified of pills, but I tried this method just 5 minutes ago, and it worked! I sincerely hope it works for you too! =D

Before doing this, I used to stir the pill in water and drink it down (it tasted nasty though, and could be dangerous (that depends on what pills you're taking)).

[angeleyes251]

I am glad that i thought i was alone...i am 54 and still have a fear of swallowing pills...i have a high blood pressure and i was given a very tiny pill to take it was okay for me,  because i could chew it, but now i found out that i'm allergic to it..doctor changed it for me now it's alittle larger that before and i'm not to chew it or crush it i must swallow it whole ....I tried it many ways but somehow it finds it self to stay...please is anyone out there with any suggestion ..i was thinking of hypnotizem...will it work???

[Yesacasey18]

I am on a contraceptive pill and although I can swallow them, I feel like vomiting at the thought of swallowing it. I never had this problem before Its something i have developed. Not taking the pill is not an option. Has anyone got any tips for me?

[answerall]

I am 19 years of age as well an I've had the fear of taking pills for my entire life. It use to be my parents would have to crush up a tynol or gravol and put it in jam on a spoon. The worst part about my fear was that i woud get car sick so i always had to take a gravol everytime we went on long road trips. At first my parents would get me the chewables, but when i got older the chewables weren't strong enough. I have conqured being able to take small pills, I had no choice to when I started using birth control. I conqured this fear when I was about 8 or 9 years old all on my own. My method was rocket candy(Thos small powdered candies you gt in the wrappers, they are shaped like pills) When i did this all i was thinking was "Its a piece of candy, it cant hurt me" and i would swollow them at first with water or juice the ratio would be this, i would put the candy in my mouth and take a huge mouth full of juice then just quickly swollow. Also in my head i was thinking(I'e swollowed crumbs and food that is bigger then this everyday) then after a few weeks i lowered the juice ratio and eventually i was able to swallow the rockets with no juice in my mouth. BUT when i tarted taking birth control the fear was back. birth control pills are soo tiny so what i did was i made a crumb of a cookie, swollowed that crumb whole and i was fine. so i thought(Just think of it as a piece of everyday food) so i popped in in my mouth and boom i was cured. I do still have the fear of taking anything bigger then a 500m ibprohine pill. this one time i got sick i had to take these huge circular pills. the best i could do was just crush it up and take little pieces until it was finished. So if you want to take small pills i suggest that, just dont think of it as a pill, cuz you can swollow your meals no problem right? so just dont even think of it as a pill

[cnote]

Easy solution. Just either break em up in small pieces and take it bit by bit if you can. Some things you cant if they are time released. But most nutritional supplements aren't time released. Also, you could make a smoothie and blend your supplement pills in there!? Just and Idea. I don't think its all in your head. Some of us have easy gag reflexes, and bigger tonsils. I cant take big antibiotic pills, I have to cut em in pieces or get liquid form. Lots of things come in liquid form these days too. Hang in there. You'll find a way. =)

[pinkiepie36]

dont worry, i cant swallow them either. and im 13

it was very strange , because i rember one time when i had a fever, and i was about 9 years old. i was sleeping on the couch when my father woke me up and handed me a moltrin for kids. being sleepy still, i took the pill and water and swallowed them down in a whoosh and went back to sleep.

then, the triminic i was used to taking (the orange flavored kids ones, since i tend to collect colds like some people collect stamps) did not work any more, so my mother told me to take a tylenol instead. i took it down on my first try, and was very proud. from then on, i could take tylenols whenever i needed to, just to gulp them down.the one morning , i took one and swallowed just the pill and not the water with it. i gagged and nearly threw up. i started to get anxious about pills all over again. and then, i was able to take any size pill i wanted to (benilyn,tylenol active release)  until i somehow gagged again! and now i can only swallow pills when i really am calm. its a on and off thing. it makes me crazy wondering if i am going to be able to swallow my next pill. im sorry this was so long, but i was wondering if anyone could offer me some tips?

[shoutoutloud08]

I'm 20 and still cant swallow pills. I thought I was the only one who had this fear. My parents get really annoyed at me and tell me its ridiculous. I usually just crush up the ones that arent time release and I take liquid or chewables. Hopefully I will get over it soon.

[adriii]

hi im 12 1/2 years old and have such a big problem swallowing pills!! i HATE taking pills!!! I recent;ly went to the hospital and they gave me  amoxacilen.... or something like that..... IT WAS HUGE!!!! I couldnt swallow it!!!! i ended upp chewing it!!! YUCKIE!!!!! and the next day... i had to take another pill..... ended up choking on it.. water shooting outta my mouth as if i was puking!!!! i honestly cant take pills unless there really small like the small zyrtec pills. Well thats the story of my fear..... but you know what makes it worse...... people pressuring u to take the pill!!! when i say no... they tell me to grow up..... its a pill!!! IM FREAKING SCARED OF CHOKING GOD!!!!! Ughhhh anywayzzz im just terrified that ill choke on the pill again

[wxmark]

My mom has a hard time swallowing pills due to a narrowing of the throat.  She found a company that makes a vitamin spray.  The spray is absorbed through the lining of the mouth and enters the bloodstream in less than 30 seconds!  

I think the website is www.trymist.com

I hope this helps!

[wcu1usc1]

im 27 and can only swallow claritin haha

[crystalfresh]

Hehe. I need to bury them in apple sauce and then gulp down more apple sauce to finish it down. No apple sauce no big pills. I can't get them down. Ice cream somewhat works but apple sauce does it for me.

[misskld]

well i have been like that my whole life as well, im 19 too and i got over it .. id say 2..3 months ago, when i had to start taking paxil for anxiety.  everytime i had to take a pill i HAD to have someone with me incase i did choke.  but one day my grandma told me she takes 3 different pills a day and swallows them all at once, i was amazed ..sounds silly huh!  then she said well when your eating food your swallowing lots at once.. sure its all chewed up but theres lots going down at once right.  so i just started thinking that the pill was just like food but i even could use water if i wanted to and within the week i could swallow any pill i wanted! (but chose just to stick with the paxil lol)
so i dono if thatll work for you but it worked for me!! best of luck!!!
-misskld

[amish1979]

Just remember that a lot of the "controlled release" medications can cause you problems if you crush (chew) them.  If you reserve yourself to chewing any pills, please double-check that they are safe to "crush".

I couldn't swallow pills until I was about 14, and I don't remember how I got over it.

[robbeth]

I too had trouble swallowing pills, even small birth control pills.  I am 37 and have just started swallowing them about 3 years ago.  Some hints that might be helpful.... get the small cups of applesauce, put the pill in it and drink it out of the container.... what helped me was to have food in my mouth, already chewed and before I swallowed I put the pill in and took a drink.  The pill kinda gets lost in the food.... not very appetizing to think about but it helps.  I still have problems with the uncoated pills, and if I think about taking them I sometimes have to drink several drinks, it seems if I just throw them in my mouth and take a drink while Im reading or typing or something else they seem to go down without a hitch.  Anyway, just some ideas... and it is nothing to be ashamed of.....