$Unique_ID{BRK02148}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is there Medication for People who Can't Swallow?}
$Subject{Medication Swallow stuck throat pain injected analgesic inject rectal 
rectum blood stream injection liquid oral syrup pain medication pills}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is there Medication for People who Can't Swallow?


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QUESTION:  Even the most ordinary hurt cause me great anxiety for I simply
cannot take medications.  Even the smallest pills get stuck in my throat.  Are
there any pain medications that do not have to be injected for people who hate
needles but cannot swallow?  I am sure you doctors have something up your
sleeve for cases like mine.

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ANSWER:  The two most obvious ways to get an analgesic or pain reliever into
the body are to swallow it or inject it.  And while the answer may not be up
my sleeve, there are other ways to administer medications, and the most common
is a rectal suppository.  A suppository is a pellet of wax or other material
mixed with medication.  When the suppository is placed within the rectum, it
melts and medication is absorbed through the lining of the rectum.
     Many analgesics are available in suppository form, from mild pain
relievers such as acetaminophen to narcotics like morphine and its
derivatives.  However, the dosage of pain medication in suppository form may
vary from that of the same drug injected or swallowed because of the different
route of administration and differences in the amount of medication that can
be taken into the blood stream with this technique.
     Suppositories help patients who cannot swallow avoid the discomfort of
injections and also give them some control over their medications.  A patient
who is at home does not need a nurse coming in twice a day to give an
injection, when there is an easy alternative available.
     Here's another tip that may help you with oral medications in liquid
form.  The colder the liquid, the easier it is to swallow.  And for many
individuals a sweet syrup may help overcome their aversion to swallowing
medication.  Mary Poppins was not wrong.  "A little bit of sugar helps the
medicine go down."

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.