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Lots of people find it hard to swallow pills. There are things you can try to make it easier and a pharmacist can offer advice.
take pills with water – you can take some pills with other drinks or food. Always read the instruction leaflet
lean forward slightly when you swallow
practise swallowing with small sweets or bits of bread – try bigger pieces as swallowing gets easier
do not throw pills towards the back of your throat
do not tip your head back too much when you swallow – this can make swallowing more difficult
do not crush pills, open capsules or alter your medicine without getting medical advice – this could stop the medicine working properly
Do not try these techniques if you also have difficulty swallowing food and drink (not just pills), as you might choke. See a pharmacist or GP for advice.
This video shows how to swallow a pill using the "lean forward" technique.
This video shows how to swallow a pill using the "pop bottle" technique.
A pharmacist can advise you about:
Problems swallowing pills can be due to:
