Ibuprofen for headaches, aspirin for heart health, antibiotics for infections, multivitamins you may not necessarily need — lots of people take pills from time to time. But are we actually taking them the right way? Why do some folks feel nauseated after ingesting certain meds, and why does it seem like some pills are harder to swallow than others? Is there actually an ideal way to get them down?
Turns out, there are a lot of things many people get wrong when it comes to taking their medication. Ahead, medical experts clear up some of the confusion and give their advice for taking pills the most effective way.
There are times when you might feel like you’re taking your pills wrong because you’re having a hard time swallowing them, but Jennifer Bourgeois, a SingleCare health expert and integrative health practitioner with a pharmacy degree, tells Yahoo Life there are a number of reasons behind this phenomenon, which is also known as “pill dysphagia.”
“Some individuals may have a small esophagus, which makes it difficult to swallow pills. Past surgeries and esophageal stricture can also contribute to difficulty swallowing pills,” says Bourgeois. Additionally, Bourgeois says having a heightened gag reflex or producing insufficient saliva (which can be caused by a number of things, including Sjorgen’s Syndrome) can make it even more difficult.
Additionally, as Healthline reports, anxiety or a fear of choking on a pill can also keep some people from getting medication down. And while chewing pills isn’t always advised, according to Verywell Health, there are other methods, such as the pop-bottle technique, that can make taking pills easier. Some people have found success by practicing with small edible candies like M&M’s, or by coating their pill with yogurt, applesauce or honey.
Our experts don’t recommend taking pills “dry” or relying solely on saliva to get pills down.
“In addition to making it easier for the pills to go down and reducing the risk of irritating your throat or esophagus, fluids can help break down the pills and ensure absorption of the medication,” HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, a pharmacist and clinical consultant at BuzzRx tells Yahoo Life.
Bourgeois says drinking at least 4 ounces of water is a good idea to ensure your pills pass into the stomach. “Taking a large gulp of water may be more effective in helping the pill move down the throat, as smaller sips may not generate enough force to carry the pill down effectively,” she says.
Water is seen by experts as the preferred beverage for taking pills. Ngo-Hamilton says this is because it doesn’t interfere with absorption.
“Certain medications should not be taken with fruit juice and dairy products,” she says. Ngo-Hamilton and Bourgeois both point to the fact that milk and yogurt can reduce the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, while grapefruit juice can increase side effects of certain statin medications used for high cholesterol.
Bourgeois also recommends against rinsing down pills with carbonated drinks, which can cause pills to dissolve prematurely. And caffeinated drinks can increase the metabolism of some drugs and are not advised. Alcohol is also a big no-no as it can cause harmful side effects.
“That said, if you struggle with swallowing pills, a non-acidic carbonated drink, such as seltzer, can be helpful in creating pressure that pushes the pill down,” says Ngo-Hamilton.
Experts say that so long as you’re not having any trouble, swallowing multiple pills at a time is generally safe.
“Taking pills back-to-back is also generally acceptable, but it’s important to ensure that each pill has fully passed the throat before taking the next one to avoid choking or discomfort,” says Bourgeois.
She and Ngo-Hamilton also warn that some medications should be spaced apart, so consult with your doctor and pharmacist to find out the best timings.
It’s important to always carefully review any instructions listed on medication, in addition to any guidance from a doctor or pharmacist, experts say. Some medications are best taken with food; for others (such as thyroid medications), the recommendation is to take the pill on an empty stomach, says says Ngo-Hamilton. She notes that either way, the guidance is based on what’s best to ” maximize absorption and effectiveness.”
And what you’re eating — if a medication calls for a full belly — can also matter. “Depending on the pill, there are certain foods and beverages that can make it more difficult for your body to properly absorb the medication, which can reduce effectiveness,” Ngo-Hamilton says.
For example, fatty foods and high-fiber foods can delay absorption; dark greens, fermented foods, dairy products and certain citrus or acidic fruits and drinks can interfere with metabolism or the medications themselves.
One more thing to consider: timing. “Generally, taking the pill in the middle of a meal or immediately after can help reduce gastrointestinal side effects and improve absorption,” adds Bourgeois
While tilting your head back might seem like a good idea, our experts say research has shown that the opposite is true.
“Often, tilting your head backward can make it harder to swallow pills — especially if you take them with liquid — because it can cause the pill to float back up to the front of the mouth,” says Ngo-Hamilton. “It is more effective to tilt your head slightly forward when taking a pill because this position promotes the opening of the esophagus.”
And according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, your posture matters. Lying down and leaning to the right after taking your pill can speed up absorption by about 13 minutes compared with staying upright, while turning to the left was found to greatly slow down absorption. It should be noted, however, that it’s advised to stay upright after taking certain medications to avoid esophageal irritation or gastrointestinal distress; always follow the guidance indicated on the pharmacy instructions.
Maybe you feel a headache coming on, or want to nip back pain in the bud. Before you pop a pill, make sure you’re taking the best medication for the job.
“While ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin are often considered interchangeable, each has its ingredient makeup and intended purpose,” Dr. Brynna Connor, a family medicine physician and Healthcare Ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com, tells Yahoo Life, noting that many people take aspirin “in low doses to help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.”
Some people, she adds, may have a preferred pain reliever based on their health history and how their body responds to medication. For example, people who can’t tolerate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include ibuprofen and aspirin, may instead use acetaminophen, though it’s less effective for inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis, muscle sprains or menstrual cramps).
Dosing guidance also varies according to which medication is taken, which makes it risky to instinctively down two pills without first checking how many milligrams are in each pill and what the daily limits are. Ngo-Hamilton warns that many people underestimate the adverse effects of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, so it’s important to always follow the instructions on the package’s label. Bourgeois says this is especially important when using multiple meds.
“For example, taking a cold medication with acetaminophen and also a separate acetaminophen pill can lead to an acetaminophen overdose, which is dangerous for the liver,” says Bourgeois. Additionally, many people fail to think of prescription drug interactions with their over-the-counter medications, which Bourgeois says can reduce the effectiveness of their meds or lead to harmful side effects. “Before starting any OTC medications, patients should consult their pharmacist or other health care provider to ensure there are no interactions with their prescription medications.”
One last note: Because they are known to irritate the stomach lining, which could lead to gastritis or ulcers, ibuprofen and aspirin are best taken with (preferably mild) food, and/or milk (though water is fine if you can’t handle dairy). “Acetaminophen is the least likely to cause stomach irritation and is considered OK to take on an empty stomach,” says Connor.
