Have you ever felt a capsule stuck in your throat? Many people don’t realize that improper capsule ingestion can actually harm the esophagus and stomach. Why can swallowing capsules incorrectly damage the esophagus? This is closely related to the design principles of the capsule dosage form.
Medications in capsules are typically in powder or granular form – substances that are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, unpleasant in taste, volatile, easily broken down by oral enzymes, or at risk of being inhaled into the trachea. Gelatin capsule shells address these issues by delaying drug release until they reach the stomach. However, if swallowed improperly, capsules may get lodged in the esophagus, soften, and prematurely release their contents, potentially causing burns, inflammation, or ulcers.
At SED Pharma, we not only produce high-quality gelatin capsules and capsule filling machines, but more importantly, we prioritize your health and proper medication usage. Next, we’ll share 4 crucial tips for swallowing capsules safely and effectively – ensuring both medication efficacy and safeguarding your digestive system’s health.
4 Tips to Take Capsules Without Hurting Stomach
When taking capsules, you only need to master 4 skills to protect both the effect of the medicine and the stomach.
01. Always Take Medication Standing Up
Some individuals with weaker constitutions tend to lie down immediately after taking medication or even swallow pills while lying down.This makes it harder to swallow capsules, increasing the risk of them lingering in the esophagus and accelerating drug release. If the medication is highly irritating to the esophagus or stomach, it may cause damage to these organs.
Correct method:
Swallow capsules while standing upright. Bedridden patients should sit up as straight as possible, keep their upper body upright while swallowing, and only lie down after the capsule has been fully ingested to ensure it reaches the stomach.
02. Never Peel Open or Chew the Capsule
Some medicines are easily decomposed by enzymes in the oral cavity, and they will fail if they are taken off the shell. Drugs that are highly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract may cause stomach pain when taken apart. Sustained-release, controlled-release and enteric-coated capsules should not be stripped and eaten, otherwise the onset time will be affected.
Correct method:
Swallow the entire capsule whole with water.
03. Take the Medicine with Cool Boiled Water or Warm Water
While using hot water may seem thoughtful, it can harm your stomach.
Hot water softens the gelatin capsule shell prematurely, causing it to stick to the esophagus and potentially damage tissue. Even if softened capsules reach the stomach, rapid dissolution releases highly irritating drugs all at once, worsening discomfort.
Correct method:
Capsules should be taken with warm water, and the water temperature should generally not exceed 40°C.
04. Drink 3 Sips of Water While Taking the Medicine
Swallowing medicine dry or drinking too little water may allow the medicine to stay in the esophagus and damage the mucous membrane. Do not want the capsule to be “stuck” in the esophagus, so drink the right three mouthfuls of water when taking the medicine.
Correct method:
Prepare: Wash hands and pour 200-300ml of warm water.
Step 1: Take a sip of water before placing the capsule in your mouth. This primes your throat and esophagus for swallowing.
Step 2: Place the capsule in your mouth, take another sip of water, and swallow. The water prevents the capsule from sticking to your throat.
Step 3: After swallowing, drink a large mouthful of water to ensure the capsule clears narrow sections of the esophagus.
By following these steps, you ensure safe delivery of medication to the stomach while protecting your digestive health.
Gelatin Capsules & Packaging Solutions by SED Pharma
Capsules come in various sizes, typically ranging from Size 00 (largest) to Size 4 (smallest). At SED Pharma, we specialize in high-quality size 00 gelatin capsules, widely used in dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations.
Our advanced machinery portfolio includes:
- Gelatin capsule filling machines
- Tablet press machines
- Lift-type tablet dedusting machines
All equipment is meticulously engineered to optimize production efficiency and ensure superior product quality, supporting seamless manufacturing processes for both nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
