Learning to Take Capsules

[Rudey]

Crush it and sniff it.

-Rudey
--My dad made me keep taking the same damn pill until I learned and let me tell you it sucked, but it worked.

[ISUKappa]

I still have to take medicine with lots of water or (preferrably) food. I even have a hard time if I try and take them with just water but I can usually get them down.

[DigitalAngel126]

Applesause is one good way. Pudding is another. Also, you may want to check with the label/your doctor...If it's a med that is able to be crushed or broken up, you can easily do that and pu it in a bite of anything really.

[AEPhiSierra]

this worked with one of my friends.


fill your mouth almost completely with water and then put the pill in your mouth. (you'll look goofy, i know) then swallow the water in one or two gulps max (a lot of little gulps won't work as effectively). when you're swallowing so much water you won't even notice the pill in your mouth.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Eight is young to be taking capsules. Do they have the medicine in chewable or liquid form? My mother used jelly or ice cream instead of applesauce, but it's the same theory. I didn't take pills until I was ten or twelve. My sister had to take a few pills daily from the time that she was little due to her allergies, sinus problems, and asthma.

Maybe you can train her. You can sit down and take a pill with her. (Your medicine, not hers.) Show her how it is done, and do it with her daily. You two will have your own private routine. Everyday that she takes her pill, give her a gold star. After ten gold stars, she gets a small reward like a toy or time alone with mommy. Training should be about positive reinforcement, not punishment. Kids get really anxious about things like this, and parents can be a big comfort if they can remain calm. Eventually, it will become routine.

[dzsaigirl]

I used to have to take pills when I was that young. I had a lot of trouble. At first, my mom would empty the capsule into a glass and then make chocolate milk or Ovaltine in it. Then I would have to drink the whole thing.

Then, I just had to learn to swallow them. I still have trouble swallowing pills, especially if they are big, like antibiotics or vitamins!

I take big pills with orange juice because the taste of a dissolving pill in addition to the size of a pill will set off my gag reflex. With orange juice, the taste is masked.

My dad says that if you have to swallow a really huge pill, you should put the pill on your tongue, take a big sip of whatever liquid and then turn your head like you are looking to your side and tilt your head up when you swallow. I have yet to try this.

[XOMichelle]

Originally posted by carnation
Mr. C. and I have successfully taught 12 of the 13 kids to take capsules. However, the 8-year-old has put us through hell with this--gagging and choking--and we can NOT keep this up with her daily pill!

Does anyone have any tips for learning to take capsules?

Generally, the biggest thing to get over in swollowing pills is fear of choking, and not the physical act of swollowing something in a chunk (because you do that all the time!). Start her out with a non-threatenening thing like mini-M&M's. She can't be afraid of putting M&M's into her mouth can she? Have her try swollowing the mini's first, then when she can do that, give her Skittles or regualr M&M's. After she can do that, try the pills.

Originally posted by XOMichelle
Generally, the biggest thing to get over in swollowing pills is fear of choking, and not the physical act of swollowing something in a chunk (because you do that all the time!).

That's so true. When I was younger I had no problem swallowing pills and could often do it without water. But then in high school, I choked on a chicken nugget (classic) and ever since I've had a hard time taking pills.

Originally posted by AEPhiSierra
fill your mouth almost completely with water and then put the pill in your mouth. (you'll look goofy, i know) then swallow the water in one or two gulps max (a lot of little gulps won't work as effectively). when you're swallowing so much water you won't even notice the pill in your mouth.

That's how I do it now. It looks silly, but it works.

[ladyj39]

My mom used to crush up the pill or break it apart (depending on what type of capsule it was), cut a banana vertically, and sprinkled the nedicine in the crack. I ate the banana and couldn't really tell. I will admit that I didn't like bananas for a while after, but it worked.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by XOMichelle
Generally, the biggest thing to get over in swollowing pills is fear of choking, and not the physical act of swollowing something in a chunk (because you do that all the time!). Start her out with a non-threatenening thing like mini-M&M's. She can't be afraid of putting M&M's into her mouth can she? Have her try swollowing the mini's first, then when she can do that, give her Skittles or regualr M&M's. After she can do that, try the pills.

Oh that's good. I like the idea of M&M's and Skittles.

[lifesaver]

I did applesauce growing up becasue the asthma meds I used to have to take were way too big. (this was pre-inhaler days). The dr. said the applesauce was fine.

Just check with the dr. Good luck!

[bluefish81]

I take huge horsepills and I normally do it one of two ways:
hold it between my front teeth and when I drink the water it just goes down or I put it on my tongue and then use my teeth to slide it as far back as possible.

[Glitterkitty]

She has to take a pill everyday? Poor thing! For what?

The applesauce thing works though.