Pill stuck in throat?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2003
Pill stuck in throat?
3
Mon, 05-03-2004 - 5:37pm
Does anyone ever worry about their pill getting stuck in their throat or esophogus? I'm probably paranoid, but sometimes, when I take my pill without water handy (if I'm out or unable to grab a beverage), it feels like it doesn't make it all the way down. I imagine it probably has, but does anyone know if this is a valid concern?

What would happen if your pill dissolved someplace BESIDES your stomach (mouth, esophogus, etc.)?

Just curious - thanks!! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2003
Mon, 05-03-2004 - 5:44pm
I get that feeling every now and again, too - then again, I usually take my pill w/o water, for convenience. I don't think that anything bad would happen, even if the pill did dissolve somewhere in your esophagus instead of in your stomach, but it's pretty easy to fix - drink a full glass of water after taking the pill, and that will wash it down.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Mon, 05-03-2004 - 5:58pm
It's kind of a strange phenomenon, actually. sometimes pills will get sort of stuck for a very brief period of time, but the esophagus will push down everything pretty fast (just swallow something standing on your head and you'll know what i mean), but that little bit of irritation from the stuck pill will linger for quite a while, making it feel like you still have something there, even though it's long gone, in your stomach and happily dissolving away.

in terms of dissolution, as far as i rememeber, birth controls pills are dissolved in the stomach and absorbed in the small intestine. some drugs are enteric coated and don't dissolve in the stomach, but rather stay whole until the intestinal absorption process begins, but i'm pretty sure birth control pills aren't like that. usually enteric coated medicines clearly state that they must not be chewed or crushed. anyway, since your BCPs are probably dissolved in the stomach, i don't think it's really a problem if they start dissolving a little sooner, like in your throat or on the tip of your tongue.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-18-2003
Mon, 05-03-2004 - 9:37pm
Hey, I actually posted a question about my BCP dissolving in my mouth before I could take a drink a couple of weeks ago. I called PP and the nurse told me that if the pill does dissolve in your mouth, the mucous membranes in your mouth would absorb it. Don't know if this helps.