Problems Swallowing Pills

According to a 2005 study reported by the American Medical Association, up to 40 percent of adults experience difficulty swallowing pills. For these people, difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, can lead to poor compliance with medication regimens, missed doses or refusal to continue taking medications. Dysphagia has many causes, both major and minor, but regardless of its origin, sufferers share problems with taking medications in pill and capsule form.

Diseases of the Esophagus

• Esophageal dysphagia, which originates in problems with the esophagus area, may cause difficulty swallowing pills. A Mayo Clinic report on swallowing difficulties notes that esophageal dysphagia has many origins, including age, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tumors and strictures of the esophagus.

Neurological Causes

• Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and muscular dystrophy, as well as sudden neurological damage from strokes or brain injury and cancer can also cause dysphagia. Also, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, particularly for cancers of the head and neck, can lead to dysphagia.

Unknown Causes of Dysphagia

• According to Mayo Clinic, some cases of dysphagia have no real anatomical cause. Psychological factors may also account for problems swallowing pills. For many individuals, difficulty swallowing pills may fall into this category.

Strategies for Swallowing Pills

• Crushing pills or mixing them with food may make taking medication easier, although Mayo Clinic warns that you can not treat all medications this way. Health Key's discussion of ways to swallow pills notes that other strategies include sipping water or soda before taking the pill, or taking a deep breath to relax. It may also help to use a straw, or to center the pill on the tongue.