Are There Any Tips to Make Swallowing Pills Easier?
Yes, there are several strategies that work for swallowing pills, depending on the type of pill. It doesn't matter if the cause is an overdeveloped gag reflex only in response to pills or if it's part of a larger swallowing problem (dysphagia).
The first thing I suggest is to put the pill in a spoonful of applesauce or pudding. Yogurt, oatmeal, and grits also work well. Basically you can put a pill in anything he likes that's thick and has a slippery or slimy texture to help the pill go down.
With some types of medications, you can crush the pill and mix it with the applesauce or in pureed food. If it's a capsule, you can cut the capsule in half and empty the contents into food. However, this only works with single-dose medications. If it's a time-release formula, then when you crush it it's not time-release anymore; you get the whole dose at once. So before using this strategy, read labels carefully or ask the pharmacist or doctor whether a medication can be taken this way.
