I can't swallow - can amoxicillin tablets be taken crushed?

I have tonsillitis and today I was seen by a doctor who prescribed me amoxicillin (antibiotic). The trouble is I can't swallow solids.. liquids are hard enough. Will crushing the tablet in some way adversely affect the metabolism of the drug?

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Reply 1

anandv05

Surely_unsure

Finally somebody else who can't swallow tablets, i cant swallow tablets either!! But I dont know the answer to your question

Reply 2

hb9

I read "i can't swallow" and started barking up the wrong tree entirely.. :/ haha
erm.. i was on amoxicillin last week but they were like capsule things which you wouldnt be able to crush really, i don't really know, probably can crush them though if its tablets.

Reply 3

mamooshka

Up until last year I couldn't swallow tablets whole either, so I did the whole crushing system and my doctor said that it shouldn't affect antibiotics, but it's best to learn to swallow them - all I did was start swallowing tablets with a spoonful of yoghurt, then switched onto water. Give it a try :smile:

Edit: Ah, it's just because your throat is sore. Opt for the liquid option if there is one, if not, you might have to just take the pain I'm afraid.

Reply 4

tick.tock

I'm not sure about your original question about crushing them, becuase don't they usually come in capsules??
Meaning you can pull them apart and the powdered drug is inside the 'plastic'?? :confused:

Anyway, also my doctor usually asks me when i have a throat infection if i can swallow tablets as there is a liquid suspension version that is usually used for children. (tastes very nice too i must add) Maybe you could call them and ask for that instead??

Reply 5

cconstant

i had tonsillitis last month and found it very hard swallow the tablets, I just had to grin and bear it. After a the first day (8 tablets) the tonsils went right down.

Reply 6

Surely_unsure

anandv05

Finally somebody else who can't swallow tablets, i cant swallow tablets either!! But I dont know the answer to your question

Well, I can usually. I'm in great pain and my tonsils are swollen, that's why it's difficult to swallow.

Reply 7

SoapyDish

It says on Wikipedia that you can get liquid forms of it for people who can't swallow tablets, so it could be that it will affect it if you crush it up.

I would have thought (PLEASE don't take my advice though!) that if the tablet is coated, or if it's a capsule, that you can't crush it and dissolve the powder, because the coating is there to delay its absorption. But if it's just a compressed powder tablet, you might be alright...PLEASE don't go by my meandering thoughts though! Maybe go back to the pharmacist or doctors and ask if it's ok to take as a powder, or get the liquid prescribed...

Reply 8

cconstant

Oh the doctor told be that if i found it too hard to swallow them he would admit me to hospital for intravenous, so i guess crushing them isn't an option

Reply 9

cconstant

**EDIT** i was on penicillin, which I'm guessing your allergic to as its more effective.

Reply 10

Surely_unsure

tick.tock

I'm not sure about your original question about crushing them, becuase don't they usually come in capsules??
Meaning you can pull them apart and the powdered drug is inside the 'plastic'?? :confused:

Bugger.. I wish I had asked for the suspension. I haven't taken antibiotics in such a long time. The ones I have are tablets.

Reply 11

tesco4life

anandv05

Finally somebody else who can't swallow tablets, i cant swallow tablets either!! But I dont know the answer to your question

I can't swallow tablets either. I used to crunch those little pirition (can't remember what they're called) antihistamines. Lol.

Reply 12

anandv05

tesco4life

I can't swallow tablets either. I used to crunch those little pirition (can't remember what they're called) antihistamines. Lol.

lol when i crush them it makes me gag though because they are disgusting luckily ive only ever had to swallow tablets for a sore throat once in my life that i can remember so far

Reply 13

belis

Surely_unsure

You should have asked your doctor for a liquid preparation. Or talk to your pharmacist. Not ask students on internet forum about messing about with medications. Can you go back to the pharmacy or call them and ask?

Not to be ackward but if somone here tells you it's safe would you really believe them and just go ahead?

Reply 14

raceforthefishman

I was on said capsule...and chewed it slightly (I can't swallow tablets so would eat them in something)

it still works....and I appear to be no different....*cough*

(but I would still ask some kind of professional)

Reply 15

tick.tock

Surely_unsure

Bugger.. I wish I had asked for the suspension. I haven't taken antibiotics in such a long time. The ones I have are tablets.

Am sure you could and probably should ring your doctors and explain your problem and ask for the Dr. to write you out another prescription for the suspension if it's possible.

Much safer than following random strangers advice and going by trial and error to see what works... :yes:

Reply 16

tesco4life

anandv05

lol when i crush them it makes me gag though because they are disgusting luckily ive only ever had to swallow tablets for a sore throat once in my life that i can remember so far

Haha I sometimes crush them up and eat them in a spoonful of Nutella. I do that with all tablets I take- thank god I rarely take any tablets!

Reply 17

Surely_unsure

belis

I rang the pharmacy and I have been told I can crush the tablets. I'm a bit surprised because they appear to be enteric coated.

Reply 18

belis

Surely_unsure

I rang the pharmacy and I have been told I can crush the tablets. I'm a bit surprised because they appear to be enteric coated.

It's just a film coat used to disguise the nasty taste. Enjoy. :p:

Reply 19

dances_with_lamposts

cconstant

**EDIT** i was on penicillin, which I'm guessing your allergic to as its more effective.

If the op was allergic te penicillin, they would also be allergic to amoxicillin. :smile:

taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A6557295 Amoxicillin is related to penicillin, which was first discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928 when he noticed it being produced by the mould Penicillium notatum. However, amoxicillin is an artificially altered (semisynthetic) variant of penicillin, and was first made in 1972. The whole point of converting penicillin into amoxicillin is that the latter is more effective at treating disease.