I can’t swallow my tablets are there any alternatives

If you struggle to swallow tablets or capsules, you should always discuss this with your doctor and/or pharmacist. There are plenty of alternatives available.

Firstly you should check on the database available on this website to see if there is a liquid medicine, a dispersible, buccal or oro-dispersible tablet available. If you are unable to find out from the database then you should ask your pharmacist as they will have the most up to date information on what is available or the safe adjustments you could make to your medicines.

There are some medicines which cannot be advertised because they do not have a license but are available if prescribed by your doctor. Again your pharmacist will let you know if this is the case for your medicine.

Sometimes your doctor or pharmacist will suggest that you disperse your tablets in water before taking. This is similar to tablet crushing in how it may affect tablet coatings and absorption of the drug in your body. Therefore, you should only do it on the advice of a professional.

If there are no alternatives which can be taken by mouth or you cannot take things by mouth, it is worth asking if there is a patch, suppository, cream or inhaled version of your drug available. These are however very limited as an alternative option.