Can compounding help with trouble swallowing pills? Can any medication be made into a liquid or patch formula?
Difficulty swallowing pills is a common problem. Be sure to discuss your problem with your
doctor when he or she is prescribing a medication for you. While the medication may not be
available in a chewable form, it may come in an alternate form such as liquid, powder,
sublingual (placed under the tongue to dissolve), orally dissolving (when placed on the
tongue), suppository (inserted in the rectum, or for females, in the vagina), nasal spray,
injectable liquid, cream or ointment, or patch. These options can allow for you to avoid
swallowing pills altogether. Your physician also may be able to treat the cause of the
swallowing difficulty.
A word of caution: Do not crush pills or empty capsules to make them easier to swallow
without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on the medication, this may
alter the effect of the drug and/or may cause serious, possibly fatal, side effects. Unless
your doctor or pharmacist has OK'd doing so, avoid crushing your medications to make swallowing
easier.
Find a Walgreens location
near you offering medication compounding services to tailor your
prescriptions to your needs.
Find out more about swallowing difficulty.
If you're looking for more specific answers to specific questions, ask a Walgreens pharmacist here.
DISCLAIMER:
Answers to questions regarding information about medications or health conditions are not for
diagnostic or treatment purposes and are not conclusive as to the presence or absence of any
health condition. Consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment of your medical condition.
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. Advances in medicine may cause
this information to become outdated, invalid or subject to debate. Professional opinions and
interpretations of the scientific literature may vary. Walgreens' terms of use and general
warranty disclaimer apply to all services provided. If you are in need of immediate medical
attention, contact your physician, poison control center or emergency medical professional. If
you need to speak with a pharmacist for non-emergency matters, contact your local Walgreens
pharmacist or call a Walgreens.com pharmacist toll-free at 1 (877) 250-5823.
