Dysphagia caused by an underlying medical condition is one thing but more people than you might think only have difficulty with swallowing when they try to take tablets.
A survey carried out in the US in 2008 revealed that taking tablets - anything from contraceptive pills to vitamin tablets to cod liver oil capsules - causes problems in 4 out of every 10 adults. These people do not have an underlying health condition and they do not have difficulty swallowing food. They just become very anxious when they need to swallow tablets.
Women have much more of a problem than men - over half the women surveyed said they had experienced difficulty swallowing pills compared to 27% of men.
An age old problem?
The difficulties in swallowing tablets that many people report have probably been experienced since the 1840s when pills were first developed. In 1884, tablets resembling the ones we have today were devised by William Upjohn - and it took only 6 years before the first device to overcome difficulty swallowing became available. Many others have been invented since, although some work for some people, others find them no use at all. Those that require the head to be tipped back are particularly bad for setting off a sensitive gag reflex.
Size matters
Many people reported that larger tablets caused the worst problems. Even the anticipation of having to take a large pill causes tightening of the throat. Difficulty swallowing tablets was also more common when people were faced with an extended dosing period. The thought of having to take daily tablets for weeks, months or even years was a frightening prospect.
Difficulty swallowing causes poor compliance
Due to the anxiety created by having to take regular medication in tablet form, 14 per cent of people admitted they had delayed taking their dose. Almost 1 in 10 had missed a dose deliberately and 4% decided to discontinue their treatment.
This is a highly dangerous thing to do but, interestingly, a quarter of the people who had real difficulty with swallowing tablets never mentioned the problem to their doctor or to any other health professional. They probably also failed to admit they had not adhered to their course of treatment.
Increasing awareness of liquid medications
Few people who experience difficulty in swallowing tablets realise that many common medications are now available in a liquid formulation that is much easier to take. Few people have difficulty swallowing liquids.
Liquid forms of many drugs are available, including tamoxifen, which some women who have had breast cancer need to take every day for 5 years. Other commonly prescribed drugs that are available as a liquid are:
* Metformin, which people with Type 2 diabetes often have to take several times every day.
* Ranitidine, the H2-receptor antagonist used to treat stomach ulcers.
* The anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.
* The anti-sickness medicine metoclopramide.
* Dipyridamole, the anti-platelet medication used to prevent strokes in patients with artificial heart valves.
Author Resource:-
Do you have difficulty swallowing? You may be surprised to discover that there are simple and easy ways to take your medication that doesn't involve swallowing tablets. You can find lots more information about the different medication available if you suffer from swallowing difficulties at www.rosemontpharma.com
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