Swallowing Pills Whole

[SecretStarr82 4]

I am having a hard time taking my meds... I crush them or open the capsules and eat them with apple sauce but the taste is horrible! Sometimes I just choose not to take it... When can I just swallow these suckers whole???

[Lisa :) 231]

I had a post op appt at 5 weeks out and asked the NP if I could swallow pills and she said yes...her suggestion at that time was to take them with something like applesauce, yogurt or SF pudding and not to take more than two at a time. But I've been taking them with my Protein Drink in the morning since about week 10. So call and ask but it probably depends on how far out you are.

[takingmylifebacc 21]

I am only 10 days post op and I swollow mine whole, and have no problems.

[longer-life 139]

I was given my 3 prescriptions to swallow whole at the hospital (with a tiny sip of liquid) and I had no problem with them. I was told to wait 10 minutes between them. My pills are small though. They are size of Zyrtec pills. Perhaps you can look those up and compare to yours.

[olderbutwiser 7]

I was 6 weeks out and got the clearance to swallow my pills as well as Vitamins. WOW....the Calcium and multi were huge, but so far so good. Also taking D3 and Fish oil, but those really just slide down. My regular pills are pretty small. I take them all one at a time but not long between each one....just separate swallows of Water. Luckily I have no problem with water. After I took the first calcium giant, all I could picture was it being too big for my sleeve, but they are thankfully coated so I guess they slide through ok....I hope!! LOL :biggrin5:

[thebionicbroad 127]

I'm 7 weeks out, and the surgeon cleared me to take small pills whole, instead of cutting them into fourths like I've been doing. My pill-splitter has been one of my best friends. I started splitting the pills at about 3 weeks, because I swore that if I had to swallow that vile, bitter powdered pile of pills again, I was going to hurl. I just experimented with a larger Biotin capsule, and even though my stomach is producing some inquisitive gurgles, so far, so good.

[olderbutwiser 7]

I agree -- crushed pills were SO disgusting. That and puree to me have been the worst part of this whole thing. Well there was a little pain the first week, but not that bad. When I was cleared to swallow pills, I thought about crushing my crusher!!! I didn't just in case!

[Tenshi 34]

I was cleared to swallow capsules and gelcaps at my one week post op. I was told to split tablets in half.

[Tif 2.0 141]

I was never told to crush my pills. The only med I have that would be crushed is my Reglan, but it's so small I just swallow it whole. My chewable vitamins I just nibble on until they are gone, same with my chewable Iron and Calcium (those two not at the same time though, I know.)

[Beyon Sleeve 57]

I hated crushing my pills for the first 10 days. It's smash them in a ziplock baggie then sprinkle them in a tablespoon of lite Cool Whip to help with the taste (couldn't do yogurt at the time). But after 10 days I had no problem. Just take it slow and spread out the times you take the big pills.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I was told not to take any Vitamins for about 2 weeks out. I was in such a fog that I didn't know that I was suppose to take my cholesterol meds. LOL I didn't miss them and my cholesterol is just fine. No harm done. I'm not saying to not take your meds, it is important to take the meds.

[circa 333]

instead of crushing them, cut them into pieces and take them if they're too big to swallow.

[KellyL 173]

I guess we're all different, but I never crushed any meds. I was taking antibiotics and a PPI immediately upon release out of the hospital. I had no problem swallowing, no pain. I know having to taste the crushed meds must be gross. Maybe cutting them in half as others suggested might work? Good luck!!

[SleeveDreamer 383]

The only pill I don't want to swallow is a huge potassium capsule I take twice a day, so I open them and put them in my Protein drink before I blend ( no taste thank God!). I am going to start putting them in some applesauce though so I can get off the Protein Drinks since the pill didn't have any taste. The guy at The Vitamin Shoppe told me that most powder meds inside capsules have no taste. (not sure if that's true or not). Otheriwse my other pills are small enOugh to swallow with no problem.

[Charlotte 23]

I have not taken any meds since morning of surgery, eight weeks now. Every time I tried I would end up spitting them out, couldn't get them down. Most of mine I can't crush according to the bottle. I have not had any effects of not taking them am doing ok. I have found a few of them in liquid form, now just to get scripts for them.

I agree we are not all alike check with your doctor and see if any of them come in liquid form. My pain pill was a melt away that they gave me to come home with.

The only one I worry about not taking is the Plavix (no crush, but does come liquid form) if approved for it.

I always think of Mary Poppins a spoon full of sugar (steveia) helps the medicine go down lol. But that didn't help me either.