Teaching a Child to Take Medicine in a Pill Form

Hi. I was like your daughter. What finally prompted me to learn to swallow a pill whole was the killer cramps I started getting. No baby med was going to touch that and out of desperation, I learned.

What I do is hold the pill gently between my teeth. I have a big glass of water (or juice, whatever) and as my mouth gets full of the water, I loosen my hold on the pill, toss my head back and swallow. It goes right down with the mouthful of water and I don't taste it or feel it. I keep drinking several more ounces to make sure it's all the way down and doesn't get stuck in my esophogus. Now, many years later, it's no big deal and I don't have to go to such extreme measures.

I hope this helps some. Good Luck!

I am a pharmacist and have used this hint to help alot of people - especially children and the elderly, with very good success. It sounds like she has a very strong "gag reflex." I recommend greasing up the pill. Olive oil or butter work nicely. It helps it slide down the throat instead of sticking. Try it with the m&m first and have her "chase it" with a beverage. Hope this works for you!

Honestly, I don't think there is much you can do until she is ready. I had this same problem growing up, and couldn't swallow pills until I started taking prenatals before getting pregnant with my son...I was 22. Even with the motivation of having a healthy baby, it was really hard for several months and even now, 2 1/2 years later, I still find it difficult to swallow them sometimes. It is mostly a mental challenge, but she may also have a very strong gag reflex that adds to the problem (I know that's part of my problem). If she is willing to try practicing, I'd suggest starting with something very small, even smaller than an M&M. Have her swallow one per day until she can do it easily. Then try something a little bigger. Just keep doing it every day until she can finally swallow the pills. Also, try not to get frustrated with her or force her to do it because it won't work. My parents hated that I couldn't take pills and it only made the problem worse. Good luck! :)

Not sure if this will work with a teenager, but this is what I do in my profession to teach toddlers to swallow food supplement tablets. We use the SunSplash Waterpark analogy. Most kids love the water slides. We start with a tiny Optiflora capsule that is smaller than the head of corsage pin. Kids of all ages agree it is much smaller that all the mouthfuls of food they swallow and therefore could never possibly choke on it. We say the 'power pill' is going to sit at the top of the slide (back of mouth), then we're going to swish some water down, it will go down the slide (esophegus) and splash into the pool (stomach). Once that is accomplished, we move up to a small gelatine capsule. The essential fatty acid supplements are delivered that way with my company. They are smooth and don't stick to the tongue, so that is the next step. With toddlers, other supplements are usually chewable so we stop there for a couple years. My 6 an 9 year old girls swallow full-size multi-vitamins. I often use them as demonstrators for other kids. Especially boys, who won't let my 6-year old daughter out-do them.
Unless your teenager chokes regularly on food indicating a physical problem with swallowing, then it is all in her head. Have her think about the size of the food she chews all at once in her mouth and swallows. Any of the vitamin and medicine tablets out there are certainly small than a mouthful of pizza.
Good Luck.

It is a difficult task, as you always chew something before swallowing. I try to place the pill as far back on my tongue, (not thinking about it :0)), then I will drink water like I am super thirsty--gulping. I feel the more liquid in your mouth "disguises" the fact of the little pill. I wish you well....

she's not the only one with that problem...im in the same boat. For Tylenol they have the outside flavored so once you swallow it you wont get the medicine taste to it. Try by giving her an m&m to swallow without chewing just so she gets a feel for it. But all i can tell you is what works for me...when ever i have to take a pill when i cant take the pain any longer i have sprite in hand. Because sprite has that gas, tingly thing to it. Once i swallow the pill quick i drink the sprite than have something sweet in hand so it washes all down. Im 22 and still have this problem. It's something normal because i haven't had any luck getting rid of the feeling of a pill in my mouth. but you just find ways to work with it, but understanding and don't get frustrated with her. best wishes hope this works and hope you find a solution

B., i am not sure what to tell you will work, but it sounds like she has a slight "sensory issue" with pills. my son has a few problems, (with "gerd", a sensory problem, and is behind somewhat on developmental,speech.) he doesnt eat at all, and has a feeding tube or "gastostomy". we have what is called a "food therapist" (which is done by a speech therapist). i am not saying your daughter has a serious problem like my son does, but only that, you could get a "food therapists" oppinion/insight in a visit. you could get your childs pediatrician to recammend a good one where you live. good luck!

As a child I was always araid to swollow a pill but one day I had to swollow a pill or stay ill and it was a sudafed- Sudafeds are very small, kinda like a birth control pill or something. I placed the pill on the back of my tounge and tooka big gulp of juice and down went the juice with the pill and I never even felt it.

Maybe have her practice swolloing something smaller, maybe try m&m minis--by placing one on the back of her tounge then drinking a big swig of water?

Maybe it will help ease her fear (if fear is the problem anyway)
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