Do you take supplements?

StarSong said:
Hmmm... talk about timing. Just yesterday I read this article:
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/...d-may-be-bad-for-you?utm_source=pocket-newtab
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It seems that scientists can't agree on anything. Every few years they publish opposite findings.

I'm going to take my newly bought supplements and think of them as insurance. Some pay for insurance and never collect, others collect too much. It's the roll of the dice, I guess. Only thing I'm sorry about is that I bought C-1000 and the tablets are gigantic, I'm afraid of chocking, so will cut in 3 pieces and next time buy the smaller ones. I'm only taking three supplements so it's not like I'm overdoing it and spending a fortune on placebos.
 

This is the third day I'm taking the supplements and that BIG vitamin C pill is getting problematic. I even cut it into 3 pieces and those pieces were still getting stuck in the back of my throat. They each finally went down after drinking a lot of water. And now I've been coughing due to the irritation.

I don't understand it, I dont have problems swallowing food. I thought of crushing the tablet but it's the ''sustained release'' kind. Maybe I should just throw it out and get the smaller tablets. It cost $12 for 250 tablets, but better to waste that $$ than die from chocking.

So, should I crush the tablet (and how to do it?) or just buy a C with smaller pills? It seems most of them are C-1000 though, a few C-500.
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Catlady said:
This is the third day I'm taking the supplements and that BIG vitamin C pill is getting problematic. I even cut it into 3 pieces and those pieces were still getting stuck in the back of my throat. They each finally went down after drinking a lot of water. And now I've been coughing due to the irritation.

I don't understand it, I dont have problems swallowing food. I thought of crushing the tablet but it's the ''extended release'' kind. Maybe I should just throw it out and get the smaller tablets. It cost $12 for 250 tablets, but better to waste that $$ than die from chocking.

So, should I crush the tablet (and how to do it?) or just buy a C with smaller pills? It seems most of them are C-1000 though, a few C-500.
51Q++lvlYnL._AC_UL320_ML3_.jpg
Click to expand...
Some large vitamins I had a problem with for a while. The gag reflex kicks in. While I dislike wasting money, I dislike choking even more, so I most certainly would get the smaller vitamins. If taking your vitamins causes you this discomfort, it could get worse. Knowing you might choke on your vitamins might cause you to tighten up your throat causing you to choke, so a cycle starts.
If you get what I’m saying. Get something that is easy to swallow so you keep taking it
 

I have trouble swallowing pills, I only buy capsules and open all of those and mix them into orange juice. I don't use any time released supplements though.

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Keesha said:
Some large vitamins I had a problem with for a while. The gag reflex kicks in. While I dislike wasting money, I dislike choking even more so I most certainly would get the smaller vitamins. If taking your vitamins causes you this discomfort, it could get worse. Knowing you might choke on your vitamins might cause you to tighten up your throat causing you to choke so a cycle starts. If you get what I’m saying. Get something that easy to swallow so you keep taking it
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Exactly! But I'm afraid if I buy the C-500 they might still be too big. Is it okay if I crush it even though it's extended release? I could buy the C-500 that is not ER and crush it? The Centrum is almost as big but the surface is smooth and it goes down easier when I cut it in half.
 
Catlady said:
Exactly! But I'm afraid if I buy the C-500 they might still be too big. Is it okay if I crush it even though it's extended release? I could buy the C-500 that is not ER and crush it? The Centrum is almost as big but the surface is smooth and it goes down easier when I cut it in half.
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No time released tablets shouldn’t be crushed or chewed. Look for something with a coated surface like your centrum. You’ll find it OR take Seabreeze’s suggestion where you can break a capsule and mix it with liquid. That’s a great suggestion actually. Better quicker absorption.
 
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Okay, if I can't crush it, I won't take the chance of chocking on it. I'll buy the capsule type instead. Hate to throw out the 250 pill bottle, not because of the money, because I hate wasting stuff. Maybe I'll ask my young sweet neighbor if she wants it. Thank you Keesha and SeaBreeze, this forum is the best!

EDIT = I just found a pic at Amazon, look how BIG the pill is!

61nU-msQd8L._CR0,204,1224,1224_UX175.jpg
 
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Catlady said:
This is the third day I'm taking the supplements and that BIG vitamin C pill is getting problematic. I even cut it into 3 pieces and those pieces were still getting stuck in the back of my throat. They each finally went down after drinking a lot of water. And now I've been coughing due to the irritation.

I don't understand it, I dont have problems swallowing food. I thought of crushing the tablet but it's the ''sustained release'' kind. Maybe I should just throw it out and get the smaller tablets. It cost $12 for 250 tablets, but better to waste that $$ than die from chocking.

So, should I crush the tablet (and how to do it?) or just buy a C with smaller pills? It seems most of them are C-1000 though, a few C-500.
51Q++lvlYnL._AC_UL320_ML3_.jpg
Click to expand...
Some people get Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil (long name but this is the safe/healthy kind).
It is a solid that is very easy to just put a tiny amount of oil on the pill with your fingers.
It is VERY greasy so a tiny bit is all that is needed.
Do it quickly though because this oil turns liquid very quickly from the heat of your fingers.
And then they very quickly swallow the pill with water so it doesn't start dissolving.
I have never tried this.

When my throat occasionally has trouble with pills it is because my throat is irritated and slight closed up (shrunk) from allergies or sinus or a slight cold.
Even just a slight irritation can do it. Not drinking enough water also causes me a problem.
I use ear acupuncture to make my throat to open up.

There are risks with opening pills or cutting/crunching pills and swallowing them with juice or water.
Mixing with juice changes the PH of the contents which can be harmful and/or weaken their effectiveness/potency.
The pill contents may be very harsh on tooth enamel and/or the mouth throat mucus membranes.
The pills also don't dissolve slowly in the stomach and absorb into the body slowly like they are supposed to.
This also can be risky to do for multiple reasons.

EDIT: A thought. Maybe swish a small amount of Coconut Oil in mouth and slowly swallow it to coat the throat before taking the pills (easier then trying to coat the pill method above).
 
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Catlady said:
Okay, if I can't crush it, I won't take the chance of chocking on it. I'll buy the capsule type instead. Hate to throw out the 250 pill bottle, not because of the money, because I hate wasting stuff. Maybe I'll ask my young sweet neighbor if she wants it. Thank you Keesha and SeaBreeze, this forum is the best!

EDIT = I just found a pic at Amazon, look how BIG the pill is!

61nU-msQd8L._CR0,204,1224,1224_UX175.jpg
Click to expand...
That’s how big my multiple, vitamin B and vitamin C are. Happyflowerladys idea is a good one. Coconut oil. Add some slip.
 
Catlady said:
Okay, if I can't crush it, I won't take the chance of chocking on it. I'll buy the capsule type instead. Hate to throw out the 250 pill bottle, not because of the money, because I hate wasting stuff. Maybe I'll ask my young sweet neighbor if she wants it. Thank you Keesha and SeaBreeze, this forum is the best!
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You're welcome Catlady!

I bought a bottle of L-Lysine tablets years ago when I felt a cold sore coming on, that's the only form that Walgreens had. They were big horse pills like the one in the photo and even breaking it in two didn't help me get it down. I put a couple in a baggie and went into the garage and pounded it with a hammer. I then tried to mix it with juice but there were too many chunky bits to deal with. Went out to another store that sold the caps and was able to take as many as I needed with no problem, just opened the caps and mixed in juice.

Good idea to offer it to a neighbor. I have a friend who was suffering with Fibromyalgia and I wanted to buy a bottle of Magnesium Malate for her to try, and it only came in those large tablets. I called her and she said she had no problems at all swallowing large pills, so it worked out fine for her.
 
Thank you guys. I texted my neighbor, if she doesn't want it, I'll just throw out. I'm going grocery shopping Sat and will buy the capsules in the smallest bottle I can find and try that. I think the capsule should be easier to swallow, if not I'll try the coconut oil suggestion. I remembered, even when young I had trouble with big vitamin pills but they didn't get stuck in my throat like it happened these 3 days.
 
I take vitamins for women over 50-Alive Once Daily. I was taking Fish Oil but ran out. I really was spending too much (for my budget) on supplements. I don't think there's any real proof they do any good. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I also take some medicines and use a pill box that has boxes for morning and afternoon and evening and bedtime. They have enough room for the amount I take.
 
Catlady said:
Okay, if I can't crush it, I won't take the chance of chocking on it. I'll buy the capsule type instead. Hate to throw out the 250 pill bottle, not because of the money, because I hate wasting stuff. Maybe I'll ask my young sweet neighbor if she wants it. Thank you Keesha and SeaBreeze, this forum is the best!

EDIT = I just found a pic at Amazon, look how BIG the pill is!

61nU-msQd8L._CR0,204,1224,1224_UX175.jpg
Click to expand...
Give it to your horse. Looks like that's what it was designed for. 🤣
 
Catlady said:
Okay, if I can't crush it, I won't take the chance of chocking on it. I'll buy the capsule type instead. Hate to throw out the 250 pill bottle, not because of the money, because I hate wasting stuff. Maybe I'll ask my young sweet neighbor if she wants it. Thank you Keesha and SeaBreeze, this forum is the best!

EDIT = I just found a pic at Amazon, look how BIG the pill is!

61nU-msQd8L._CR0,204,1224,1224_UX175.jpg
Click to expand...

This may not be your problem but I thought I would share it with you just in case. I take a huge fish oil pill that is about that size and it gets stuck in my throat. One day I took it and noticed it didn't and then I noticed why. My glass of water was full when I took the pill so I did not have to tilt my head at all to get this pill down. I tried it several days again with tilting and not tilting my head and each time I had to tilt, it would get stuck every time and each time I didn't, it went down easy! Who would have thought that something as simple as that would have been my problem?
 
AprilSun said:
This may not be your problem but I thought I would share it with you just in case. I take a huge fish oil pill that is about that size and it gets stuck in my throat. One day I took it and noticed it didn't and then I noticed why. My glass of water was full when I took the pill so I did not have to tilt my head at all to get this pill down. I tried it several days again with tilting and not tilting my head and each time I had to tilt, it would get stuck every time and each time I didn't, it went down easy! Who would have thought that something as simple as that would have been my problem?
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Interesting! You would think if you tilt your head it would make it easier, but it seems tilting tightens the throat. It's okay, I've already asked my neighbor and she said yes that she wants it, I'll buy C-500 in capsules and hope they're easier to swallow and smaller in size. At this point, just thinking of swallowing such a ''horse pill" makes me panicky. I live alone and chocking would be fatal for me. Thanks!
 
SeaBreeze said:
You're welcome Catlady!

I bought a bottle of L-Lysine tablets years ago when I felt a cold sore coming on, that's the only form that Walgreens had. They were big horse pills like the one in the photo and even breaking it in two didn't help me get it down. I put a couple in a baggie and went into the garage and pounded it with a hammer. I then tried to mix it with juice but there were too many chunky bits to deal with. Went out to another store that sold the caps and was able to take as many as I needed with no problem, just opened the caps and mixed in juice.
Click to expand...

I occasionally get cold sores but had never heard of L-Lysine as a treatment. Does it work?
 
StarSong said:
I occasionally get cold sores but had never heard of L-Lysine as a treatment. Does it work?
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Yes and no, if take it at first sign of trouble it can help a great deal but may not totally prevent...so if you get one anyway it will almost always shorten the time the sore lasts, the size and intensity of it..

Here is some research science: https://examine.com/supplements/lysine/

And what to eat and not eat; being careful to eat so that you don't get an arginine and Lysine imbalance in the body while taking Lysine.

https://www.healthline.com/health/lysine-foods
 
Vitamin D3, Vitamin C and Tumeric. Not on any pharmaceutical meds. I just recently started using powdered Tumeric... I love it.. it is mixed with other good stuff. I add it to my smoothies and cereal. I also do not eat beef nor pork. Mainly fish, chicken and ground turkey when I make turkey burgers, spaghetti and lasagna. I buy a lot of organic products. Can be a bit expensive but worth it. Forgot to add, I take flaxseed oil when I remember it.
 
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Homeschoolie said:
Yes and no, if take it at first sign of trouble it can help a great deal but may not totally prevent...so if you get one anyway it will almost always shorten the time the sore lasts, the size and intensity of it..

Here is some research science: https://examine.com/supplements/lysine/

And what to eat and not eat; being careful to eat so that you don't get an arginine and Lysine imbalance in the body while taking Lysine.

https://www.healthline.com/health/lysine-foods
Click to expand...
Good to know. Thanks!
 
I take a daily multivitamin, in case I don't get the minimums from what I eat, and also a daily Lutein pill and fish oil capsule...per recommendation from my eye doctor. So far, so good....the eyes are holding up, and I just go to the doctor for the annual physicals. IMO, taking a couple of vitamins, and trying to stay fit, is a lot more effective than allowing the health to deteriorate to the point of needing a daily dose of expensive prescription drugs.
 
Catlady said:
This is the third day I'm taking the supplements and that BIG vitamin C pill is getting problematic. I even cut it into 3 pieces and those pieces were still getting stuck in the back of my throat. They each finally went down after drinking a lot of water. And now I've been coughing due to the irritation.

I don't understand it, I dont have problems swallowing food. I thought of crushing the tablet but it's the ''sustained release'' kind. Maybe I should just throw it out and get the smaller tablets. It cost $12 for 250 tablets, but better to waste that $$ than die from chocking.

So, should I crush the tablet (and how to do it?) or just buy a C with smaller pills? It seems most of them are C-1000 though, a few C-500.
51Q++lvlYnL._AC_UL320_ML3_.jpg
Click to expand...
I buy Now supplements too Catlady. In fact, I currently have the Now C-500 chewables, ordered from Amazon. Maybe they would work better for you.
 
I've taken Lutein for eye health for years. I also must take potassium to stave off the foot cramps. I've noticed that since I started taking Zinc about 3 years ago, I don't get sick (or if I get cold symptoms, they are very mild and last a day or two). Recently I've added biotin because my nails were starting to split in layers and CoQ10. I've gotten back to taking my multi vitamin and Vit D with calcium gummies.
 
I've been taking a handful of supplements regardless of other's opinions on it. I can see and feel the difference in my body; I started living a healthy lifestyle and daily meditation. The results of my latest blood work is enough to convince me I hit the right combo of supplements. I have more energy to meet the demands of my work.
 
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