Tip for people who can't swallow large capsules

[Sasha]

Not sure where else to put this item!

Many people have problems swallowing large tablets and capsules.

As far as capsules go, it's possible to buy empty gelatin capsules on Ebay, Amazon, etc. so that you can open your own large capsules and decant the contents into them and swallow several small capsules instead of one big one.

The smallest size is #4 (then #3, #2, etc.)

You can buy a gadget to help you fill many at once (and it's a fiddly job so if you do it much, it will be worth it). I'm buying one made by Cap-m-quik. Be sure to buy the one for the size of your capsules.

Hope that helps somebody!

 

[Wonko]

I bought one of these years ago, it's virtually impossible to get any idea of dosage per capsule doing it this way, all you can determine is the average dose per capsule.

Of course, for your suggested application, this may not matter.

 

[Sasha]

I bought one of these years ago, it's virtually impossible to get any idea of dosage per capsule doing it this way, all you can determine is the average dose per capsule.

I think you can also buy a special tamping tool for extra (unless that's another company's version I was looking at), which I think would give you more accuracy. Perhaps that's how they do it at factories.

Of course, for your suggested application, this may not matter.

The way I'll be using it (decanting one cap at a time, to make sure of the dose), it won't. I wouldn't, for example, want to tip out ten big capsules, spread the dose through 50 little capsules, and take five little capsules and expect to be getting exactly the dose of one of the big capsules.

You're right that that's unlikely to be accurate.

 

[Adrian]

Many people have problems swallowing large tablets and capsules.

Any tips for people who can't swallow any type of tablet?

 

[Sasha]

Any tips for people who can't swallow any type of tablet?

You can buy very cheap pill-cutters at pharmacies that allow you to chop them into smaller, measured portions (or I suppose you could crush any tablet and cram it into tiny capules!)

But you wouldn't want to do this with those that are specially coated so as to be protected in the stomach.

Best to ask at the pharmacy about this, probably, in case there are issues of which I'm unaware.

The size #4 caps that I use are really very small, but even so, I struggle to swallow them with water. Instead, I take a mouthful of food, chew it up, and then shove the capsule in the middle of it and it goes down nicely.

You might want to google for other tips - there are others.

 

[Daisybell]

It’s usually easier to swallow tablets with a spoonful of something with the consistency of yoghurt/custard. As long as it’s only one spoonful, it doesn’t matter if the tablet says to take on an empty stomach...

 

[Sasha]

It’s usually easier to swallow tablets with a spoonful of something with the consistency of yoghurt/custard. As long as it’s only one spoonful, it doesn’t matter if the tablet says to take on an empty stomach...

I find that the capsule feels too much of a foreign object and I can't swallow it then. I have to take it with something like chewed-up bread or meat.

 

[Sasha]

From another thread, a very useful comment:

Worth noting that you can get two different types of capsules, plain (non-coated) and enteric (coated). It matters because some medicines need to get past the stomach acid and into the intestine before they should be released. Otherwise their effectiveness is reduced by the acid. The enteric capsules are used for those meds.

Quite a few standard prescription meds are in an enteric form.

 

[Trish]

If they don't need to be in enteric form you can probably get a pharmacy to provide them in liquid form.

Otherwise, I remember as a child my mother crushing tablets between two spoons, then stirring the resulting powder into a teaspoon of jam or honey to disguise the taste.

 

[Sasha]

If they don't need to be in enteric form you can probably get a pharmacy to provide them in liquid form.

Otherwise, I remember as a child my mother crushing tablets between two spoons, then stirring the resulting powder into a teaspoon of jam or honey to disguise the taste.

Also good ideas!

The advantage of the small capsule (and they are very small) is that you don't taste anything. Some medicines are extremely bitter.

 

[fds]

For the benefit of those who have trouble swallowing tablets, the result of extensive experimentation is that I find it easier to swallow tablets with fizzy not still water and then follow it up with either food or chew gum for a while. I was finding that tablets were sticking in my throat and the combination of these two things has helped. I googled it for ages and I think I've probably tried all the suggestions. Of course if I can find non-tablet forms of things I go for those instead.