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How Long Can A Pill Be Stuck In Your Throat?
Key Takeaways
– Each pill is of a unique size and shape
– A dry mouth and variations in pill coating can cause a pill to get stuck in your throat
– Methods like abdominal thrust can clear a pill stuck in your throat or chest
– You can mix a pill with food to avoid such mishaps
When you take a pill, odds of it getting stuck in throat are quite remote. A pill may get stuck in your throat or chest for a lesser period of time – of say, few seconds or a minute. If it stays stuck for long, it can lead to harmful effects. It may lead to difficulties in breathing and may trigger suffocation.
At times, you may feel a pill is stuck in midway to your tummy or in the throat. Such feelings normally may go away in an hour’s time; this sensation may subside completely in 2 to 3 hours’ time. If you persistently feel this sensation, drink a lot of water. This may flush the pill inside your food pipe. You can also take softer foods such as desserts or breads; it may help to keep your mouth widely open – like a yawn; it may also help to cough and take the stuck-pill out.
A stuck pill may cause pill-esophagitis; this may lead to swallowing difficulties. Every time you try to swallow food(s), it irritates inner linings of the food pipe i.e., esophagus.
If a pill gets stuck in throat of food pipe, and stays there for more than a few minutes – seek medical help without delay. You need to visit a local healthcare facility if you are choking or panting for breath and if there are any other severe discomforts. These effects can take shape when there is an obstruction in your airways and hence needs quicker clinical attention.
How to dislodge pill stuck in throat?
Prior to taking a pill, it is essential to take deep breaths and to stay relaxed. These practices can ease you off discomforts faced before taking tablets or capsules. These can also help swallow pills easily and also avoid throw-ups.
On experiencing a pill stuck in the throat, stay calm and never get into a panic mode. Anxieties may only tighten the food pipe and throat further. Instead, drink water or other such fluids – like lime juice. This makes water to wash the stuck pill(s) into your stomach. You can try eating foods like bread crumbs, applesauce, gelatin-based desserts, etc. Intake of smoother foods like yogurt can also help. All these foods can soften the throat and prevent a feeling of irritation.
Coughing is a proven way to dislodge a pill off your throat. Caregivers also suggest using methods like performing back blows or an abdominal thrust. These form part of first-aid treatment offered to patients who are choking.
Pill stuck in throat
Lack of moisture is one of the reasons for a pill can get stuck in your throat. Dryness of throat can stop pill(s) from sliding down naturally into your food pipe. Pills may often get stuck at the frontal part of food pipe – entangled with a muscle called cricopharyngeus.
The size of pill(s) you are trying to swallow is also another reason for it getting stuck. Also, the coating on pills as well as shape of tablets may also prevent them from sliding naturally. So, when you see an odd-shaped pill or a uniquely coated tablet, the odds of swallowing difficulties are high!
In elderly people, onset of Parkinson’s disease or incidence of stroke(s) act as reasons for swallowing difficulties. There are occasions wherein pills may brush through the walls of your throat. This causes irritation inside the upper part of food pipe and the sphincter valve present at the edge of the esophagus. Collectively, these make you feel a pill being stuck there.
Younger people and teens are more likely to face problems while taking large-sized tablets. At times, children may try to swallow a pill which needs to be chewed. It becomes essential to read all the instructions listed on the pack of pills and ensure if it is to be chewed prior to starting their mediation plans. Also, as kids have a relatively smaller diameter of throat area, it presents a difficulty when pills are of a larger dimension.
Older people – and also, in some adults – lesser production of saliva may occur. This can cause difficulties to swallowing a medium to large sized tablet. People who are bed-ridden may also face a hard time pushing a pill inside. Lastly, infections caused by viruses, allergic conditions and / or anxiety-based mental conditions can make pills stick in the middle.
Pill stuck in chest
A pill may enter into your lungs when you consume it wrongly. Pills can gain entry inside your windpipe – also called as trachea – instead of getting inside your food pipe. Inhaling foreign matter into the lungs can lead to an infectious condition or internal swelling (inflammation) of air pathways.
In sum, pills getting stuck in throat or chest are rare to occur. But, if you are frequently experiencing it, talk to your caregiving team about the swallowing problems. Also, care to report problems such as bruising of throat or food pipe each time you try to take a capsule or pill.
Your caregiving team may help you with a few changes to your medication plan. Your team may prescribe easy to swallow pills and avoid large-sized tablets. In general, a lower dosage strength goes with a smaller sized tablet. You may also be advised to split the pill in order to make swallowing it with relative ease.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
Pill Stuck In Throat? Here’s A Surprising Solution! » BabyBoomer.org
“It Feels Like a Pill is Stuck in My Throat”: The Basics of Pill Esophagitis | EM Daily
Pill Stuck in Your Throat? Here’s What to Do – TheWetLab
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
Key Takeaways
– Each pill is of a unique size and shape
– A dry mouth and variations in pill coating can cause a pill to get stuck in your throat
– Methods like abdominal thrust can clear a pill stuck in your throat or chest
– You can mix a pill with food to avoid such mishaps
When you take a pill, odds of it getting stuck in throat are quite remote. A pill may get stuck in your throat or chest for a lesser period of time – of say, few seconds or a minute. If it stays stuck for long, it can lead to harmful effects. It may lead to difficulties in breathing and may trigger suffocation.
At times, you may feel a pill is stuck in midway to your tummy or in the throat. Such feelings normally may go away in an hour’s time; this sensation may subside completely in 2 to 3 hours’ time. If you persistently feel this sensation, drink a lot of water. This may flush the pill inside your food pipe. You can also take softer foods such as desserts or breads; it may help to keep your mouth widely open – like a yawn; it may also help to cough and take the stuck-pill out.
A stuck pill may cause pill-esophagitis; this may lead to swallowing difficulties. Every time you try to swallow food(s), it irritates inner linings of the food pipe i.e., esophagus.
If a pill gets stuck in throat of food pipe, and stays there for more than a few minutes – seek medical help without delay. You need to visit a local healthcare facility if you are choking or panting for breath and if there are any other severe discomforts. These effects can take shape when there is an obstruction in your airways and hence needs quicker clinical attention.
How to dislodge pill stuck in throat?
Prior to taking a pill, it is essential to take deep breaths and to stay relaxed. These practices can ease you off discomforts faced before taking tablets or capsules. These can also help swallow pills easily and also avoid throw-ups.
On experiencing a pill stuck in the throat, stay calm and never get into a panic mode. Anxieties may only tighten the food pipe and throat further. Instead, drink water or other such fluids – like lime juice. This makes water to wash the stuck pill(s) into your stomach. You can try eating foods like bread crumbs, applesauce, gelatin-based desserts, etc. Intake of smoother foods like yogurt can also help. All these foods can soften the throat and prevent a feeling of irritation.
Coughing is a proven way to dislodge a pill off your throat. Caregivers also suggest using methods like performing back blows or an abdominal thrust. These form part of first-aid treatment offered to patients who are choking.
Pill stuck in throat
Lack of moisture is one of the reasons for a pill can get stuck in your throat. Dryness of throat can stop pill(s) from sliding down naturally into your food pipe. Pills may often get stuck at the frontal part of food pipe – entangled with a muscle called cricopharyngeus.
The size of pill(s) you are trying to swallow is also another reason for it getting stuck. Also, the coating on pills as well as shape of tablets may also prevent them from sliding naturally. So, when you see an odd-shaped pill or a uniquely coated tablet, the odds of swallowing difficulties are high!
In elderly people, onset of Parkinson’s disease or incidence of stroke(s) act as reasons for swallowing difficulties. There are occasions wherein pills may brush through the walls of your throat. This causes irritation inside the upper part of food pipe and the sphincter valve present at the edge of the esophagus. Collectively, these make you feel a pill being stuck there.
Younger people and teens are more likely to face problems while taking large-sized tablets. At times, children may try to swallow a pill which needs to be chewed. It becomes essential to read all the instructions listed on the pack of pills and ensure if it is to be chewed prior to starting their mediation plans. Also, as kids have a relatively smaller diameter of throat area, it presents a difficulty when pills are of a larger dimension.
Older people – and also, in some adults – lesser production of saliva may occur. This can cause difficulties to swallowing a medium to large sized tablet. People who are bed-ridden may also face a hard time pushing a pill inside. Lastly, infections caused by viruses, allergic conditions and / or anxiety-based mental conditions can make pills stick in the middle.
Pill stuck in chest
A pill may enter into your lungs when you consume it wrongly. Pills can gain entry inside your windpipe – also called as trachea – instead of getting inside your food pipe. Inhaling foreign matter into the lungs can lead to an infectious condition or internal swelling (inflammation) of air pathways.
In sum, pills getting stuck in throat or chest are rare to occur. But, if you are frequently experiencing it, talk to your caregiving team about the swallowing problems. Also, care to report problems such as bruising of throat or food pipe each time you try to take a capsule or pill.
Your caregiving team may help you with a few changes to your medication plan. Your team may prescribe easy to swallow pills and avoid large-sized tablets. In general, a lower dosage strength goes with a smaller sized tablet. You may also be advised to split the pill in order to make swallowing it with relative ease.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
Pill Stuck In Throat? Here’s A Surprising Solution! » BabyBoomer.org
“It Feels Like a Pill is Stuck in My Throat”: The Basics of Pill Esophagitis | EM Daily
Pill Stuck in Your Throat? Here’s What to Do – TheWetLab
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
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