I just discovered something...if I take pills (even big fish oil ones!) with milk they slide right down...but if I take them with Water they almost always get stuck somewhere and eventually go down. It doesn't hurt when they get stuck, just is uncomfortable.

Just thought I'd share. Even after a year and a half I'm still learning!

Megan

Yeah the milk somehow coats the pills. But the thing is be careful taking pills with milk. Some pills cannot be taken with milk due to how the pills break down in the stomach. Milk is considered a food substance and will compete with the stomach acids. SO check the pills before taking with milk.

I have noticed that if I drink some warm or tepid Water with a pill it goes down easy. Or with hot tea it goes down easy.

I forgot to mention that Penni- some pills shouldn't be taken with milk...check with your pharmacist or dr.

Good catch, Nurse Penni. Wait, aren't you supposed to be resting your eyes????

Megan

Busted. LOL!! BORED here. LOL!!

I forgot to mention that Penni- some pills shouldn't be taken with milk...check with your pharmacist or dr.

Good catch, Nurse Penni. Wait, aren't you supposed to be resting your eyes????

Megan

Jack, I was told that if the pill was larger than the eraser on the top of pencil then you need to break it up. I can swallow a tylenol caplet with no problem. The capsules or caplets are not a problem for me. The larger ROUND pills are what I have problems with. I usually have to break them in half by biting them. And yes there are some nasty tasting pills out there. I used to crush all my Vitamins till I found a liquid form.

Some people take whole pills and some don't. My doctor explained that it is safer to cut all of them up whether they get stuck or not becuase he says in a large tummy there is lots of room and acid and secretions to disolve them, but in our smaller pouch it is safer to cut them up so no drug has a chance to do bad things to the small pouch lining. Other patients of this doctor say he told them small pills are OK to take whole. I think he probably changed his position on this after time, I am guessing. I guess I just like being exta safe like he suggested.

I'm still afraid of whole pills, I crush them into powder form. One of my pills contains liquid in an oval. I've gotten used to biting into it and sucking out the contents (its all herbal stuff).

Is there an easy way to crush pills?

When I make my own morning protein shakes I just toss the vitamins in the blender. Or you can buy a little mortar and pestal at the drug store for crushing stuff.

The other day, I popped a prozac and an amaryl (diabetic med) in my mouth took a drink of water and swallowed. BIG mistake. Those two pills sat somewhere about my breast bone internally and hurt and burned and hurt for two hours. I thought I was going to go crazy. After a couple of pepcids, some warm tea and a soak in the hot tub, the pain finally went away.

I had read a suggestion before about holding the capsule in your mouth a bit to let it soften. That is what I try to do with small capsules. Larger ones I open up and put it into a small (capful) of crystal light and drink it. I take the viactive chewable vitamins. I now take a liquid metformin, that helps because the glucophage are huge. My PCP ordered some liquid antidepressant yesterday (after me describing my fiasco with the pills) but the pharmacy had to order it. I think taking meds has been the hardest thing for me to get in since banding. Hopefully my need for them will decrease more and more.

Hugs