When you’re a kid, medicine usually comes in tasty, liquid, bubblegum form. As you grow older, most medications come in pill form. So many of us become accustomed to using pills as our primary form of medication intake. But did you know that there are other options available? If you don’t like swallowing pills or have trouble doing so, read on to discover some alternative ways of getting the important medications your body needs.
1. Troches
These are the next best thing to pills. Troches come in pill form and can either be chewed and swallowed or held under the tongue where they dissolve. These are very common for children who are unable to swallow pills just yet, but they are also available for adults and others who struggle with taking pills the conventional way.
2. Powder
If you’re better with swallowing your medication, try using a mix-in powder. This powder is similar to the powder you would use to make lemonade or iced tea, except the pharmacy will designate the correct dosage and you will add it to water before consuming. You will have a similar powder that contains your medication and can easily be mixed with water for consumption. Some powders will fizz. This is similar to Alka Seltzer or Miralax.
3. Injection
There are thousands of people who have an irrational fear of needles. But for those who don’t, injections are a quick and easy way to get the medications you need. And what makes injections so efficient is that the medication is injected directly into the patient’s blood streams, making the effects almost instant. Another benefit to injections is that even for medications prescribed for daily consumption, injections often last for weeks at a time. This means a patient can have one injection per month at the doctor’s office, eliminating the need to remember to take their pills daily.
4. Lozenges
If you’re looking for medication that reminds you of being a kid again, lozenges might just be that medicine! Shaped and often flavored like fruity candies, patients suck on lozenges until they dissolve. These are perfect for sore throats but are also available for prescription medication use. Certain conditions, including oral thrush, benefit from having long lasting contact with medication, such as topical ointments. When patients suck on lozenges, it gives the medicine time to absorb into the mouth or effected area.
5. Lip Balm
If you’re one of those people that loves lip balm, this is the ideal medication type for you. Unfortunately, this medication is only beneficial if your condition affects your lips, the skin around your mouth or your mouth. Lip balm cannot be consumed. Most medications treat from the inside out. Prescription lip balm is specifically designed to treat conditions including cold sores or other mouth wounds.
6. Spray
Different sprays are used to treat different conditions. There are numbing, non-prescription sprays available for sore throats. But other sprays, like nasal as well as ear and eye drops, offer medicinal benefits when the medication is absorbed into the body. If you prefer this form of medication consumption, your pharmacist may be able to convert other medications into spray form.
7. Ointment
For many skin conditions, topical treatments like ointment are best. This is because the medicine has time to slowly be absorbed into the skin and applied directly to the affected area. Ointment treatment is highly localized and used for rashes, to treat inflammation, and may come in cream, gel, foam, and lotion form.
8. Suppository
This is one of the more unpleasant forms of getting the medication you need, but it’s sometimes necessary. A suppository is a degradable container that contains the desired medication and is inserted into a bodily orifice, often the rectum. Once the container is inserted, it is dissolved by the body and the medication is administered to your bloodstream rapidly.
There are countless different ways to get the medication you need that don’t involved swallowing a pill. And this is true for many different types of medicines from those used to treat stomach upset, and sinus issues. Read more here about that and consult your physician for alternative options to daily pill consumption.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
