how do you swallow a calcium pill?

14 years ago

Jiminy Crickets! These things are difficult to swallow. I don't understand it ... I even got the big bottle (of Calcium/Vitamin D) that says very plainly ... EASY TO SWALLOW. They are liars.

I'm supposed to take 1200 mg a day, which is two pills and I take one after breakfast and one after lunch. I was struggling so much with the full-size pill (which isn't all THAT big) so I cut them in half, thinking that would be easier. But it's not, it just makes me have trouble getting them down two times instead of once.

Anybody have any tips or tricks for swallowing a calcium pill? I've stuck 'em in the back of my throat, I've filled my mouth with liquid first and then the pill, I've tried to trick myself by eating a few bites first figuring that I'd be used to swallowing bigger items ... nothing works!

Featured Answer

kayjones

14 years ago

Crush them and mix in yogurt - strawberry is good.

Comments (43)

monica_pa Grieves
14 years ago
break them in half
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
14 years ago
I use a drinking straw in the glass of water, and sort of put the end of the straw back a ways into my mouth. I find that helps me (I think) with those big vitamins and calcium pills.

Sue
Related Discussions
how do I give pills to a rabbit? (for pasteurella)
Q
Comments (5)
the vet told us not to give the healthy one pills unless it showed symptoms. I guess this is because a rabbit is so dependent on the good bacteria in its digestive tract, and you don't want to mess that up unless absolutely necessary. So I convinced hubby and daughter who want to start giving the pills, and will get blamed if the rabbit gets sick. We have to watch closely for the first signs, and take him in tomorrow when it will be so hot. The friend's rabbit had come from us originally, and was in bad condition - very overweight, and had a dirty bottom - which she told us about after we set its cage down next to its brothers. I can't believe we are down to one rabbit - had two (told by the breeder both female) - found out one was male when they had babies. And rabbits mate again right after the birth. Another litter a month later. And vet told us it was ok to put male back right away after he was neutered - he apparently had one last go in him - another litter. Between babies dying because their mother was inexperienced, and giving some away, and the mother escaping, we were down to two, and now one. Sigh. I wonder if I should get him a nice spayed/neutered companion. Lisa
...See More
Usage of calcium pills
Q
Comments (4)
You can compost them or put them into the soil of your garden, just be aware that it will take quite some time for those to disolve into a something the soil bacteria might work on and then even more time for that calcium to be avialable for the plants, think years not months. One means of controlling Blossom End Rot in tomatoes is to put a high calcium anatacid, or some other form of calcium in pill form, or egg shells into the soil not realizing that they do nothing to prevent BER this year, Next year maybe.
...See More
Using calcium pills to help plants
Q
Comments (3)
Feel free to crush and use them. Like the eggshell trick, they won't do anything to prevent BER but they will eventually be incorporated into the soil and doing it will make you feel better. ;) If you will review the FAQ here on BER or some of the many discussions on it I think you'll discover that that lack of soil calcium as the cause of BER has long been disproved. It is the ability, or lack thereof, of the plant to mobilize and utilize the existing calcium in the soil. And that inability has many contributing factors as discussed in the FAQ. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: BER FAQ and discussions
...See More
How do I know if I am in menopause if I am still on the pill?
Q
Comments (7)
Birth control pills may help mask menopause symptoms By TOM VALEO Published March 28, 2006 All women can expect to enter menopause sooner or later, but women taking birth control pills may not notice, at least for a while. In the meantime, they can expect several benefits from the pill beside avoiding an unwanted pregnancy: They will avoid some of the most conspicuous signs of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and irritability. "A woman on the birth control pill is getting hormones at a level above what her ovaries would produce,'' said Dr. Catherine Lynch, director of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa. "When a woman goes into menopause, the ovaries basically shut down and no longer produce estrogen or progesterone in any significant amounts, so a woman taking the birth control pill in the standard fashion of three weeks on active pills, followed by one week of inactive pills, often won't have any symptoms of menopause until that pill-free week. She may not even realize she's in menopause because she's getting adequate estrogen and still cycling.'' During the week when she is not taking active birth control pills, the woman may even have a "withdrawal bleed" caused by the sudden drop in estrogen. A withdrawal bleed is easily mistaken for a normal period. And if the woman is taking continuous-use birth control pills, she will take inactive pills only one week out of every 12 instead of every four, so she will have a withdrawal bleed no more than once every four months. "So a woman who's, say, 51 and taking Seasonale one of the continuous-use birth control pills isn't going to have hot flashes or night sweats for 12 weeks, because she's having estrogen provided for her by the pills,'' Dr. Lynch said. "She may experience symptoms during the week she takes inactive pills, but just as symptoms start to climb, she starts taking active pills again, and she won't appreciate that these are symptoms of menopause.'' But that's not all. Taking birth control pills also seems to reduce bone loss. In fact, if the woman is also doing weight-bearing exercises and getting plenty of calcium, low-dose birth control pills may even help build bone density. Women on the pill also experience less iron deficiency anemia, and some studies suggest that the pill protects against benign breast disease, endometrial cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer. The Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, the largest to investigate this last issue, found a 40 percent decrease on average of ovarian cancer in women who had taken oral contraceptives. The risk decreased as the amount of time on the pill increased, so women who had taken the pill for seven years or longer experienced a reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer of 60 to 80 percent. Some Women on the pill also experience less iron deficiency anemia, and some studies suggest that the pill protects against benign breast disease, endometrial cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer. studies suggest that oral contraceptives might even protect against colorectal cancer, uterine fibroid tumors, Alzheimer's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Taking the pill has always meant an increase in the risk of blood clots, which can cause a stroke. But a woman who does not smoke, does not have high blood pressure, and takes a low-dose oral contraceptive can almost eliminate that additional risk. So why not just stay on the pill and enjoy all the benefits of hormone-replacement therapy, known as HRT? Because even low-dose birth-control pills deliver five to seven times as much estrogen as HRT. HRT simply gives the body back what the ovaries were producing before they were shut down by menopause. The birth control pill delivers a dose of hormones large enough to shut down the ovaries, and it's pointless for a woman to keep taking hormones after menopause has begun and she has stopped ovulating. She would be better off with hormone-replacement therapy, which would provide her with the same benefits but a lower dose of hormone. "The trick is figuring out when she is in menopause,'' Dr. Lynch said. "There are a couple of ways to test this, but they're not 100 percent reliable. She can go off the pill and see if she's still cycling, but if she's sexually active, there's an outside chance she could get pregnant. "While it's rare for pregnancy to occur at the age of 50 or 51, it can happen if you're still ovulating.'' Tom Valeo is a freelance writer specializing in medical and health issues. Contact him c/o Seniority, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or e-mail features at sptimes dot com. [Last modified March 28, 2006, 08:52:07] Here is a link that might be useful: from a Florida online newspaper
...See More
nodakgal
14 years ago
I must have the same ones! LOL I take them with the evening meal and others at lunch time.
I remember posting here about it too. Someone said the name brand ones are smaller and easier to swallow. But I am too tight, I get mine at Walmart, The Spring Valley brand in the green and yellow bottle.

I read online put the pill in your mouth, take a big drink, turn your head too the side as you swallow them. It works for me.Well, when I remember to do that it seems easier anyway.
zeetera
14 years ago
You don't. You buy the chewables. I would have long suffocated.
Mystical Manns
Original Author
14 years ago
monica, I did cut them in half, but then both pieces get stuck. I don't think it's the size of the pill that's the problem, it's something else that makes them stick instead of going down.

chemocurl, I tried that ... I'm not fast enough and I GAG. Not good.

nodakgal, we're struggling with the same pills. I bought the Spring Valley twin pack. I'll try your tilt-the-head suggestion at lunch.

zeetera, I might be looking for those chewables before long! I just dread taking these things every day.
foggyj
14 years ago
Have you tried "coating" them with applesauce, or even dissolving them just a little, to soften the pill? I've done that, and it sure helps.
linda_in_iowa
14 years ago
I have been taking Tums every night for at least 25 years. They are chewable, taste good and give me my needed calcium for much less than the cost of calcium pills.
gmom74
14 years ago
Make sure that tablet is dissolving in your stomach. I had read that some pills we take just pass on through. So I put my (huge) calcium tablet, the vitamin c and vitamin d in some vinegar. The c and d dissolved but hours later that calcium tablet was still sitting in the vinegar. The pharmacist pointed me toward Citracal and said if it doesn't dissolve, bring it back. It dissolved. Now I feel the effort it takes to get that huge thing down is worth it.
Also, when I complained about the tablets to my dr. he said to chew some Tums. So I use a couple of Tums a day along with the foods that contain calcium and a couple of those tablets. I know what the label on the Tums says but I figure if the dr said to use them it will be ok.
mcmann
14 years ago
I don't have trouble with calciium but I also take 3 fish oil a day and they seem to get stuck. I started taking them with a little milk and it helps- why I have no clue.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
14 years ago
it would take 6 Tums for me to get my recommended Calcium dosage, and then I'd have to also take a Vitamin D supplement in addition to that. The D is included in the Calcium I buy.

Per the link below...Vitamin D is necessary for absorption of calcium and the storage of calcium in bone. Antacids do not contain vitamin D.

While antacids may be all right for some, they aren't the economical and easy answer for everyone.

Here is a link that might be useful: Antacids and vitamin D
nodakgal
14 years ago
Stoney, Just to make sure you understood. I don't tilt my head, I just turn my head/chin to the side. Like towards my shoulder when I swallow. I've gagged on so many of these pills it was worth a try to me. I hope it helps!
pris
14 years ago
Two problems with Tums. You need a minimum of 1200 mg of calcium with vitamin D per day. How many Tums would you have to chew to get that? Do Tums have vitamin D? I don't see the point in taking something that doesn't work like it should. Your doctor is going to recommend citracal with D. I had a co-worker who chewed tums and still had to have a hip replacement. Please talk to you MD before making the decision to substitute Tums for calcium w/D.
sue_va
14 years ago
Look for Citracal Petites. They are coated.

I also take a multi vitamin, which is bigger than Citracal Petites. I "throw" it as far back as I can on my tongue and quickly take a big drink of water and down it goes.

Sue
Jodi_SoCal
14 years ago
Mind over matter ... I just imagine I'm swallowing a chunk of steak because I'm certain I've managed food larger than my calcium pills without incident. I don't like breaking them apart thought because then you have to deal with sharp edges.

Jodi-
caroline1947
14 years ago
The straw trick really works for me,,,put it way back in your mouth and take a good suck through the straw...and it helps if you take it with a beverage you enjoy...
FlamingO in AR
14 years ago
I take the same ones and compared to the glucosamine pill I used to take, the calcium pill seemed small. Now I've switched to a smaller gluc. pill that I found at Walgreens and all 3 of them are going down really nicely.

I use a big water bottle with the pull top and I squeeze water into my mouth as I'm taking the pill, it helps to force it down. I also have found that just raising one arm over my head helps, too.

I only take my pills when Woody is nearby, I've nearly choked a few times on them and it's scared me. I call it "I'm going to take my death pills now" so he pays attention for a minute. Usually. lol

I used to bite the gluc pill in half and it would still get stuck going down, it felt like it was ripping my throat out every time.
tobygirl
14 years ago
I couldn't swallow them either, not even the Citracal Petites, so I switched to liquid calcium - love it!
Marilyn Sue McClintock
14 years ago
I have the chewables. Works for me. They are the Meijer brand.

Sue
Mystical Manns
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, I'm obviously not the only one having problems!

So at lunchtime I'll try turning my head a bit and see if that works ... and then tomorrow I might talk myself into the straw trick.

I found an online nutrition health source that says:

A regular Tums contains about 200 milligrams of calcium and so is best for those needing only to get a small increase in their calcium intake. Tums have the effect of lowering the acidity of the stomach by reducing the amount of hydrochloric acid that is secreted. Taking several Tums every day, day in and day out, may have detrimental effects on digestion.

So I'm thinking that is not the way to go for me.
barb_from_pa
14 years ago
All vitamins seem so big now. I liked the old "1-a-Day" vitamin size. I would be happy to take more than one if they just weren't so big. The chocolate and caramel chewables are a more fun way to go. (I just can't remember to take them)
hayjud_mn
14 years ago
I have a lot of trouble swallowing at times and I try not to take pills when I'm alone.

I have found that it is easier to get them down with a spoonful of applesauce, yogurt, or pudding. Be sure the yogurt is smooth. One time I took it (calcium) with blueberry yogurt and there was one huge blueberry in that spoon and I had both stuck!

I like the chewable Caltrate, but my budget likes the big calcium from Sam's. I break them in half and use a spoonful of smooth stuff, but I always keep a glass of water ready, just in case I need some help.

That straw idea sounds interesting. I'm going to give that a try too.
susanjf_gw
14 years ago
let me clue you..you sure don't want to have to take script d! i had to for a while and it was about $3 a pill for the amount i needed...and the zemplar script? $100 co-pay...
ilmbg
14 years ago
Don't forget to use a calcium pill that includes BOTH D and magnesium! D and Mg are needed for absorption.
Don't buy the cheap stuff- it usually does not include different kinds of Ca- people absorb different forms of Ca at different rates. It needs to be organic form.
Anyway- when I worked, I would occasionly get floated to the rehab floor. With patients who had some trouble swallowing large pills, they would coat the pill a little with olive oil- it made the pill VERY slippery! It was slippery to handle also, so if your hands don't work well this might not be an option for you.
If we could figure out a way to manufacture the pill to have the correct weight in a tiny pill we would be rich!!
glenda_al
14 years ago
Amazes my GS that I can swallow one calcium, two fish oil capsules and one multi vitamin all at once!
heather_on
14 years ago
OMG I thought I was the only one that had trouble with calcium pills.
Mystical Manns
Original Author
14 years ago
hey, ilmbg ... my bottle says, in 'other ingredients,' ... magnesium trisilicate and magnesium stearate. Are either of these what you're talking about?

And it worked! I tilted rather than turned, my head and that baby went right down. Yippee!
yborgal
14 years ago
I've heard coating it with a little butter makes the pill go right bown.
socks
14 years ago
Wow, so many suggestions here! Have you tried taking them with a liquid other than water? Like milk or juice? Just a thought.
Mystical Manns
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm not supposed to take them with milk, my oncologist said to take them at a time when I'm not getting a significant amount of calcium already since the body will just expel what it considers 'extra.' I've taken them with water, and with diet pepsi and hot cocoa, I thought maybe the hot drink would be the key but nope. Didn't help.

But the head tilt thingie worked for me, the lunchtime pill went right down, slicker than ... than ... well, than anything. So I'll keep doing it! And then keep the straw idea on hand just in case this one fails me sometime!

Thanks for all the great ideas, and good luck to everyone else struggling with these darned things. I hope you find a solution here too.
Lily316
14 years ago
I have trouble with Silver Centrum. I am supposed to take calcium pills but thought they would interfere with my digestive tract. Does anyone have that problem? I take 2000 units vitamin D and also a magnesium pill.
pris
14 years ago
2000 iu's of vitamin D? Is that good? You need D to absorb the calcium but according to my doctor, 15 minutes of sunshine gives you sufficient D daily. D is absorbed by the body through the eyes when out in the sun. I take a supplement because I've never been exposed to the sun on a regular daily basis. Now your calcium supplement has it included and I believe it's no more than 400 to 600 iu's per capsule. (too lazy to get up and go look) Some supplements are not good if taken in large quantities. Not sure about D. I know any oil based vitamin needs to be monitored as the body doesn't eliminate what it doesn't use.
stargazzer
14 years ago
I've never had a problem with any pill. With a large one I do take a swallow of water first to moisten my mouth.
jemdandy
14 years ago
I have to take a bunch of pills in the morning. In addition to the prescriptions, I take a vitamin, 3 glusomine tablets, and 1 or 2 fish oil capsules. The glusomine and fish caps are tough to swallow. I wash the whole mess down with a glass of V8 tomato juice.

(I can buy 2 jugs of V8 at Sam's Club for about $6.)
coconut_nj
14 years ago
I'm glad the sideways thing worked for you. I'll have to give that a try. I used to be able to take any kind of pills and any amount without drinking anything. I was young then I guess. Smiles. Now they all get stuck so I always take my pills with food. I just take a decent sized bite of food, chew it a few times, shove the pill or pills in and swallow. The pills go right down with the food since you are really used to swallowing something bigger than the pill. I do follow with eating a few more bites since I'm usually in the middle of eating anyway. Been using that method for quite a few years and it's been good so far.
redcurls
14 years ago
I actually LIKE the taste of the Viactiv Soft Chews...both their caramel flavor and the chocolate flavor. It also includes Vitamin D and K.
Cherryfizz
14 years ago
I have trouble swallowing them too along with my Vitamin B which is even bigger than the calcium.

My sister used to take calcium when she was pregnant that looked like an Alka Seltzer. You put it in water and it fizzed and disolved.

I need to get some of the chewables too.

Anne
joyfulguy
14 years ago
Popeye could offer a good suggestion ...

... put 'em down while swimming with Olive Oyl!

ole joyful
ilmbg
14 years ago
stoney- yes- the ca/mg ratio is supposed to be 2:1
I haven't looked, but I bet you might find some info on the Mayo Clinic site. And yes, we can only absorb so much ca at one time, so taking it with milk would just be a waste. Unless you like milk....ugh! Whatever works!
jannie
13 years ago
I take 12 pills a day, including one calcium plus Vit. D. Try to take with meals-food and lots of liquid. I've had 3 cups of coffee today so far.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
11 years ago
a thread from 2009?? and last posted to in 2011.

My guess is there was someone spamming on it and that got removed and left it as it is now??

It has been happening a lot
Hellion
11 years ago
Well, I did not notice the dates at first, but I think I will post anyway, lol. I cannot swallow large pills. I now buy Calcium in gummy form and they taste delish! They also have daily vitamins and others. I would certainly keep these way out of the reach of children though as they do taste just like candy!
Hellion
11 years ago
Sorry the pic is so large!

how do you swallow a calcium pill?

Comments (43)

Related Discussions

Mystical MannsOriginal Author

Mystical MannsOriginal Author

Mystical MannsOriginal Author

Mystical MannsOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Mystical Manns
Original Author

Mystical Manns
Original Author

Mystical Manns
Original Author

Mystical Manns
Original Author