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Difficulty swallowing pills and capsules and COVID-19

Posted by purplehibiscus @purplehibiscus, Oct 23, 2025

I have some problems with my esophagus, and am unable to swallow regular size pills and capsules. When I need to take a medication, I pray it can be compounded into very small capsules. If I get COVID-19, I won't be able to take Paxlovid, and it should not be crushed. It is also not available to be compounded. There is an experimental inhaled medication that I wish were an option, but large trials haven't been done yet. My question is, have you had COVID-19 and successfully treated it with something other than Paxlovid?

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rashida | @rashida | Oct 24, 2025
In reply to @purplehibiscus "@rashida Thank you. I put my head down when swallowing very small capsules, I also take..." + (show)
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@rashida Thank you. I put my head down when swallowing very small capsules, I also take them with a bit of food instead of water. But for regular size pills and capsules it hasn't worked.

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@purplehibiscus do you take a big enough mouthful of water with the larger pill, then another mouthful of water head down?

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rashida | @rashida | Oct 24, 2025
In reply to @pdoubrava "@rashida this has been my go to method for 20 yrs to stop hiccuping. It works...." + (show)
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@rashida this has been my go to method for 20 yrs to stop hiccuping. It works. Not sure why.

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@pdoubrava I should remember that, for hiccups! Didn’t know this! I rarely get hiccups, but it will be good information to pass on!

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purplehibiscus | @purplehibiscus | Oct 25, 2025
In reply to @h2998sc "So you don't have covid?Correct?I'm 72,and my swallowing has been now for around 6 months feeling..." + (show)
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So you don't have covid?Correct?I'm 72,and my swallowing has been now for around 6 months feeling 'obstructed',though it isn't.Lots of big pills and capsules I've been taking for 3 years at least.Sometimes I have to take just one or two at a time.Till I'm done.I don't think anything is wrong necessarily,just getting older?.

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@h2998sc I do not have covid. I am trying to prepare in case I get it. I can take tiny capsules, one at a time, with food. Paxlovid is several big pills and they can't be crushed.

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pdoubrava | @pdoubrava | Oct 26, 2025
In reply to @purplehibiscus "@pdoubrava Oh, no! How awful! What was done to repair your esophagus?" + (show)
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@pdoubrava Oh, no! How awful! What was done to repair your esophagus?

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@purplehibiscus absolutely nothing. Seems to have healed. I saw the pics of it. Not pretty. Thank u for caring!

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jrg200911 | @jrg200911 | Oct 26, 2025

What always seem to help is putting your pill(s) in applesauce or pudding. The pills get “lost in the sauce” and go down smooth…

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