I am having trouble swallowing some new capsules (fluoxetine 20mg) that my GP has prescribed to help depression, which I have struggled with since losing my husband last year.
I am OK with pills and was wondering whether there is an alternative to fluoxetine that isn’t a capsule?
I am sorry to hear about your husband. You have a number of options on the fluoxetine.
First, make sure you are taking the capsule properly (this applies to tablets too). Rather than tilt your head back when you swallow, most people are better off doing the opposite.
Place the capsule on your tongue, take a sip of water, tilt your chin down towards your chest and swallow.
Counterintuitive though it may seem, studies show people find this makes swallowing pills and capsules much easier.
If you are still struggling, rather than switch antidepressants, you could ask your GP to swap to a type of fluoxetine that dissolves in your mouth, or the tablet version (this is often a lot more expensive than the capsule so not our first choice).
With 26 years experience in practice and a partner in a busy South Gloucestershire surgery, Dr Mark is also resident doctor on BBC One's The One Show, presents Radio 4's Inside Health, writes for The Times, and has popped up on celebrity versions of The Weakest Link and Mastermind.
Dr Mark was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to medicine.
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