While many medications can be taken in an chewable or liquid form, it might be helpful to learn how to swallow a pill to avoid the possible icky taste of the non pill form.
A guideline:
- Sit up straight
- Tilt your head back slightly
- Take a few sips of water to practice the motion of swallowing
- Put the pill in the center/front of your mouth
- Take a big gulp of water
Some more tips:
- Start with small candies like Nerds®! You can slowly size up to larger candies like M&Ms® before you are comfortable with the actual pill
- If tilting your head back doesn’t work, try different directions like looking at the floor or to your right or left
- Using a straw might help
- Try using a plastic water bottle to squeeze a large gulp of water to swallow
- Keeping your mouth moist by drinking a little water beforehand will help
- If allowed to take not on an empty stomach, stick the pill in applesauce or pudding and try swallowing that way
- Stay calm and positive – it may take more than one try, and that is okay!
