Trouble swallowing medicine capsules? Dr Mark Porter has this tip
If you are struggling to swallow medicine capsules, try this advice from our medical expert.
Image credit: Nick Lowndes
If you are struggling to swallow medicine capsules, try this advice from our medical expert.
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).
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