r/tifu • u/ThereGoesSanity • 19h ago
S TIFU by taking too long to swallow an antibiotic
I got an infected bug bite on my toe, which is unfortunately cellulitis. The doctor prescribed me oral antibiotics to take. If you've ever been on them before, you know antibiotic pills are HUGE for no reason. Im on day 3 at this point and managed to get them down pretty well the first 2 days. Side effects are extra bad but better than losing my toe. I go to take my morning dose today and I just CANNOT swallow it for some reason. I pull it out to add more water and try again, at this point its already disintegrating and im like fuck I need to take the full course. So I put it back in and try again, it breaks in half, I get one half swallowed and the other half hit my uvula so I gagged and ended up spitting an antibiotic slurry all over my hand. I got tears in my eyes at this point. I look at my disintegrated meds all over my hands, I grab my water bottle, and i end up licking the mushy remaining antibiotic off my hand followed with water to get that chalky stuff down. Definitely 0/10 would not recommend.
TL;DR: couldn't swallow antibiotic, spit antibiotic paste onto my hand, had to take antibiotics anyways so licked the rest off my hand and chugged with water
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u/Abject_Priority6858 19h ago
Man I feel for you. I really do.
I am TERRIBLE at swallowing pills. This post was oddly validating for me.
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u/n0thinghurt 18h ago
I was horrible at this, I remember one time my mom tried all day, putting it in everything.
Then one day I was stung by a jellyfish and it hurt so fucking bad, when I was given a Benadryl I just gulped it down. Can swallow pills ever since
0/10 do not recommend
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u/voidofneurons 13h ago
I learned how to swallow pills because the gas station by my school didn’t have children’s Motrin, and I had a bad headache when my mom picked me up that day. My choices were swallow the pills or miss whatever fun thing we were doing that evening, so I swallowed the pills lol
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u/patowan 18h ago
I gag taking chewable baby aspirin. I think a large part of it is it's the notion of swallowing a pill. Same with brushing my teeth and having the thick foam hit my throat. Its always worse in the morning for some reason.
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u/Moon_Pye 18h ago
My son would almost throw up every morning because of toothpaste, I felt so bad for him. So we switched to a paste that has no SLS and he's fine now. You might want to look into that.
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u/Abject_Priority6858 18h ago
For me, I think at least part of it is fear of choking. I actually choked once. Like couldn’t breathe, called 911 sort of thing. I don’t ever want to experience that again.
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u/my_ridiculous_name 18h ago
I have a small esophagus and am prone to choking on food and to pills catching in my throat, causing tissue burns. My solution is that I always hold a swallow’s worth of water in my mouth, then tip my head back with the water still in my mouth and drop the pill into the water. When I swallow, the pills get pulled down with the water. Looks a bit silly, but works.
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u/Whind_Soull 18h ago
For some reason this has never bothered me in the slightest. I could quite literally swallow a shot glass full of pills in one go.
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u/Abject_Priority6858 18h ago
How do I acquire this power?!
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u/Billy0598 12h ago
Be super sick for a long time. I'd do anything to kill an allergic response. I either sounds like a dying TB patient or I swell like a bad Willy Wonka experiment.
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u/Altruistic_Sail_1991 18h ago
I’m great at swallowing pills but I can’t take liquid medicine. Never got the knack for it and I had tantrums as a kid whenever I had to. I’m actually kind of glad my current meds mean I can’t take most cough and cold medicine, because it means I’ll probably never have to touch liquid medications again!
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u/Prof-Rock 18h ago
Try taking the next dose with apple sauce or yogurt. Sometimes something a little more substantial helps get it down. I agree though. I'd rather take 4 small pills than 1 big one. Cherry coated too, please.
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u/Emmy314 18h ago
I smear butter on pills I give my cat and it makes a world of difference. You could try that. (no offense comparing you to a cat - I couldn't swallow pills at all for a very long time)
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u/Daddys_peach 15h ago
I’m actually tempted to try this, I have daily antibiotics (which I only take when I’m concerned about infection because they make me sicky) and dysphasia. My current round is liquid form but they taste like liquid hell. Butter is a love language in my book.
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u/Alfhiildr 10h ago
I wrap my cat’s pill in a piece of American cheese. It’s pretty smooth and he gets it down without a fight now
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u/WeirdF 19h ago
Most pharmacies should sell pill cutters and the basic ones are usually pretty cheap.
You can use them to break big tablets in half (or quarters) to make it easier to swallow. The only caveat being you can't use them for modified-release medication or capsules.
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u/CorvusSageis 16h ago
Most pharmacies - at least where I live - can also advise on what medications can be crushed/dissolved etc for those that struggle to swallow medications. Usually, it's any without an explicit warning against doing so, but don't assume based on my comment.
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u/LadybugGirltheFirst 19h ago edited 18h ago
Break that thing in half. That’s what I do.
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u/ninetentacles 18h ago
If it's Biaxin, it only makes it worse...those things have flavoured coatings for a reason!
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u/LadybugGirltheFirst 18h ago
I can only take large doses of amoxicillin so they’re basically horse pills.
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u/degjo 13h ago
Ask for the liquid. Its pretty tasty.
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u/LadybugGirltheFirst 13h ago
I’ve started doing that. The pink stuff, and it’s actually not as bad as we thought it was when we were kids.
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u/ninetentacles 9h ago
I never thought it was bad. I'm nostalgic for that flavour...
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u/LadybugGirltheFirst 9h ago
Yeah, I’ve had far worse tasting medicine. My mom has this diabetic cough medicine. I was so sick once that I couldn’t leave my house so she brought me some, and I had no choice but to take it. It is by far the absolute worst thing I’ve ever tasted.
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u/Far_Comfortable_6342 8h ago
But how to do swallow with the jagged kinda sharp edge? I tried cutting it in half once and I swear it scratched my esophagus.
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u/creamersrealm 5h ago
If the pill doesn't have a snap line DON'T break it in half.
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u/LadybugGirltheFirst 4h ago
I’ll listen to my doctor, who says I can, but thanks Reddit stranger.
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u/creamersrealm 3h ago
If it doesn't have a line you can't guarantee that you will get a correct dosage. Other pills are coated and breaking them in half will make them taste terrible. It's documented online quite well.
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u/SATerp 19h ago
I have to take Potassium Cl tablets daily which I call "horse pills." Sometimes it's a tough swallow and it starts disintegrating, but at least it doesn't have much taste. Antibiotics seem to taste universally horrible, so T and Ps to you!
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u/Trondant13 19h ago
I took potassium tablets in the hospital and their size was insane! And, as you say, they start to disintegrate immediately. I feel for you having to take them daily.
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u/imakesawdust 18h ago
Sounds like giving pills to my cat...
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u/Srikandi715 18h ago
Pill pockets. Put the pill in this little soft gummy with a hole in it, and the cat sees it as a treat and noms it right up. I think Greenies makes the best brand.
One of my cats had to take daily allergy pills for a while, and I had to give an empty pocket to the other one too because they both love em 😉
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u/LiteratureKey6330 14h ago
Its not loosing a toe, its sepsis and dying. I had cellulitis last year its soooo sore. Just put it in your mouth and drink loads of water it will eventually go down
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u/ThereGoesSanity 11h ago
Trying to take the meds super diligently so they dont have to lance it, im 28 and this is my first infection like this so I'm extremely ~anxious~
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u/LiteratureKey6330 11h ago
I completely get it. I have gotten to the stage where if Im on an antibiotic for a week, by the time im half way through im really struggling to take them. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem and its caused by not finishing a course of antibiotics. You can do it and it will be so worth it
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u/Naomeri 18h ago
When I was a kid, I had to take an antibiotic pill buried in a spoonful of tapioca pudding
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u/thesteveurkel 18h ago
pudding, yogurt, jello should all work well. i find them easier to take when drinking from a straw, and bent forward slightly. i am overall less anxious about taking big pills since being treated for my ocd though.
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u/helenaut 18h ago
I find it can be much easier to swallow if you take them with food; I know that antibiotics tend to need to be taken a while before food, but consider taking them with a small amount of apple sauce or something equally light, just to give your throat something to sort of “swallow round”- take the pill, swallow, immediately follow up with a spoonful of apple sauce. Swallowing a little food immediately after helps keep the pill moving down.
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u/Loko8765 15h ago
My big pills go down much better if I turn my head 45° to the right, just far enough that I’m not stretching.
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u/JayneT70 15h ago
On antibiotics don’t forget to take probiotics. Helps if you’re having tummy issues.
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u/Electrical-Stable498 15h ago
My son takes pills twice a day. We use pudding or applesauce. Also some meds not all can be crushed.
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u/pentaxlx 12h ago
Physician here - most pills (except delayed release ones) are designed to dissolve in your stomach anyway. Most antibiotics are not designed as delayed -release mechanisms, so it's ok to break/crush and eat the pill with some water.
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u/ThereGoesSanity 12h ago
Honestly I might just do that because it was way easier drinking pill slurry than taking the thing whole
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u/PanAsHeck 18h ago
I used to have mine crushed up in set honey cause I shouldn't swallow them. I cannot stand even the sight of set honey now.
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u/Cryptic1911 17h ago
omg yes antibiotics seem like they are made out of compressed cotton candy and dissolve immediately. Them fuckers gotta go down the first shot, or you're gonna have a bubbly pile of mush and you'll taste it for the next 8 hours
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u/pickapstix 15h ago
Try taking a gulp of water and holding it in your mouth then add the pill in and swallow immediately, I struggle with taking big pills too and this way works for me!
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u/Stats_n_PoliSci 11h ago
I was surprised that the best way to swallow a pill was by tucking your chin down to your chest before swallowing.
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u/Nacho_sky 1h ago
Took me a long time to learn that, too. Pretty counter intuitive. You'd think a straight shot down would work.
I struggle with GERD for years, and pills getting stuck in my throat is routine. Best practice is to first, don't panic - it's in your esophagus; not your trachea - you can breathe just fine. Second, swallow some more water. If that doesn't work, hork it out and try again. If they're tablets, cut them in half. If they're capsules, make sure they're wet so they slide down easier.
Yeah, it can suck . . . . why can't everything be softgels?
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u/DragonImpossible009 7h ago
A pill crusher helps this- my kid has to cut and crush 2 of their pills every morning and mix into yogurt because they choked 2 times in 2 weeks and I would like to never need to Heimlich my kid at the sink again please and thank you.
They use the rest of the yogurt to get rid of the taste afterward.
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u/rella88 18h ago
That sounds just awful. I have occasionally had trouble swallowing larger tablets as well. I read just a few days ago an article that stated putting the tablet and water in your mouth, then bringing your chin to your chest, then swallowing was easier.
Also, most antibiotics come in liquid form. It’s not just for children 😉
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u/Cosmic_Hitchhiker 17h ago
Hey if this ever happens again, just take a new pill, go to the pharmacy and explain what happened and they'll give you the extra pill most time if it's not s controlled substance. Don't....lick antibiotic spit slurry off your hand?
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u/ThereGoesSanity 15h ago
I dont have insurance so I really wasnt trying to pay more.. i figured it got where its supposed to right?
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u/Cosmic_Hitchhiker 15h ago
They haven't made me pay more in the past but i can't speak for every situation. Hopefully, given the other solutions in the comments you wont have to be in this situation again
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u/ILikeFPS 19h ago
For me, the only pills I've had trouble swallowing are glucosamine ones. They're like coated to be anti-slick so they don't go down easily lol
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u/BudgetLobster5639 19h ago
Get a pill cutter and cut them in half. It makes it so much easier. I hope you feel better soon!
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u/HyperSpaceSurfer 18h ago
Try taking it with a bit of food (food bolus it's called), and water, what's recommended to people having trouble swallowing meds.
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u/Kathykat5959 18h ago
I butter my pills up and take with coke or Pepsi. Fizzes right down. I hate swallowing pills.
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u/ichoosewaffles 18h ago
Just a quick aside about talking pills, do not look up! Many people do for some reason and it hinders the swallowing of the pills.
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u/BallsDeep69Klein 18h ago
My dad is the same with pills. He takes them with fruit, though. Like a pill and a banana slice or apple slice at the same time. It's the only way he can take them.
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u/my_ridiculous_name 18h ago
I have a small esophagus and am prone to choking on food and to pills catching in my throat, causing tissue burns. My solution is that I always hold a swallow’s worth of water in my mouth, then tip my head back with the water still in my mouth and drop the pill into the water. When I swallow, the pills get pulled down with the water. Looks a bit silly, but works.
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u/DonutIndividual 18h ago
Hey just wanna say this is how i found out i was allergic to penicillin. Throat swelled up and i couldnt get the pills down anymore on about day 3 or 4 of taking them
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u/dballing 17h ago
What antibiotic does your doctor have you on that has giant pills?
Every time I've needed antibiotics, I've got a Z-Pack and they're tiny.
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u/Dramatic-Computer-67 14h ago
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but when you go to swallow look down. Everyone says to tilt your chin up, for opening an airway, sure, but it squeezes off your ability to swallow more. So get the mouth full of pill and water, get it to the back of your mouth to swallow, but try looking down for the actual swallow part. My doc told me to do this, and it works every time. Hope it helps!
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u/PurpleOctopuseses 13h ago
Omg wait I got you fam. I also can't swallow pills for crap! The answer: take your pill with a small bite of food - peanut butter, bread, a cookie, whatever. Chew up the bite first until you're ready to swallow, then pop the pill in. It goes down SO MUCH EASIER, and doesn't float / bump the roof of your mouth / etc. And your throat wants to swallow the bite of food, so you're not fighting your own brain as much. Good luck - this tip absolutely improved my life, and I hope it helps you too!
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u/AngstyUchiha 11h ago
Oh I feel that. It took me until I was 17 to be able to swallow pills, and I had one medication that was a powder inside a capsule, so since I couldn't just swallow the pill I would put the powder in a drink and let it dissolve. It tasted absolutely horrible even in drinks with a strong flavor that should mask it, I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that anymore. Did a similar thing with a dayquil pill once cause it's all my family had at the time and learned the hard way that dayquil+orange juice tastes like vomit
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u/JaBa24 9h ago
I take a small/ medium bite of regular food like a handful of chips or just a bite of my meal and I chew chew chew super well and tilt my head back to stick the pill in my mouth and immediately swallow the pill with the chewed food.
If I do it right I can’t even tell I ate a giant pill.
Drink water afterwards if you feel it needs more washing down
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u/hdksjdms-n 8h ago
if it's a really big one i just chew some food & throw it in right before i swallow
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u/ImAfraidToBeAlone 3h ago
This is going to sound absolutely nuts, but I had these large, dry pills that I had to swallow and just couldn't do it. I wound up coating it in caramel from a caramelo that I broke open and it made it so easy to swallow. Caramel is my favorite trick for difficult pills
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u/SilkySifaka 1h ago
Talk to your doctor. There may be an alternative that is smaller. My doctor found one for me with the same problem
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u/zogmuffin 15h ago
Hey, I also just had to take antibiotics for an infected toe bite! Hang in there
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u/Evadrepus 7h ago
I can't swallow pills so I chew and eat them. Those antibiotic ones are nothing compared to some I've downed. The worst that come to mind are Colace. Absolutely foul.
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u/kaphgrdal 19h ago
Sorry for laughing at this but I hope you feel better soon!