You have prescribed medication or you are wanting to try a new supplement or vitamin. They may come in tablet or capsule form. Either way, you have to get it into you somehow and some people struggle with swallowing pills. Even if the pills are small, it can be a struggle for people to get them into them. Therefore, some may wonder if it is possible to swallow pills without drinking water and if it is safe. Can you swallow pills without drinking water? The technical answer is, yes, you can. However, is it recommended? Not really unless it is the only way to get pills into you.
Why Is Swallowing Pills Without Drinking Water Not Recommended?
Firstly, if you swallow a pill without drinking water, then it will take longer to work. That is the first reason why it is not recommended to take it without water. Secondly, if you do not lubricate your esophagus by taking in water as you take your pill, there is a chance it may get stuck in your esophagus. You will need to take a lot of water, in that case, to wash it down. Eventually, it will go down, but it won’t be comfortable. However, if it does happen, you will want to take in the water right away. That is because some medications can aggravate the esophagus lining making it very uncomfortable and even painful.
However, if you are not home and you don’t have access to water, and you need to take the pill that you do have with you, then taking it without water in this case is the right thing to do.
What Is The Safest Way To Take A Pill Without Water?
The safest thing to do in this situation is to allow your saliva to build up in your mouth, and then take the pill so it is easier to swallow. There is a better chance as well that it will not land in your esophagus. If you are using this method, then the best thing to do is to either move your chin forward or move your head back when you are swallowing the pill with your own saliva. Chances are the saliva will help the pill move into your stomach quickly. If you do utilize this method, ensure that you only swallow one pill at a time instead of several of them at once.
However, the safest thing to do is if you need to take a pill on schedule while you are not home, then you should take a small bottle of water with you as well. It is easy to forget, and it is easy to get distracted which means you can end up leaving it. However, keep the water bottle near your keys before you leave your home so this way, the possibility of forgetting your water bottle is lower.
And if you are not able to swallow pills at all, and if water worsens it, then you will need to talk to your doctor. There is a solution to a situation like that.
Your Medication Can Come In Dissolvable Or Liquid Versions
If you struggle with swallowing pills, you must tell your doctor. That way, they will prescribe you a different version of the medication as most medications come in liquid or dissolvable forms. Therefore, you can get either form you want. Most of the time, you may need to mix the medication in liquid form with juice because the taste may not be nice. However, the good news is that there are solutions to this extremely common problem. If you are embarrassed because you struggle with swallowing pills, remember that you are not alone.
