Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Whenever I Take My Birth Control Pill I Always Feel
Question: Whenever I take my birth control pill I always feel like it gets stuck in my throat, but how can I tell the difference between a pill being actually stuck in my throat versus the sensation? I drink my pills with water all the time & when I feel like there's something there I eat food after just because I'm afraid theres something stuck there.
Brief Answer:
it seems like a sensation only, don't worry...
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concern...
Please note that our throat and subsequent parts are specially designed in a way so that nothing gets stuck. Considering the pill, it's even more unlikely, cause even if a small particle of it's got stuck somehow (which is practically not possible in an otherwise healthy individual, still it'll get dissolved within a few minutes only and end up going down to the stomach)...
If something gets stuck in the throat the symptoms would be quite severe similar to choking. So it's most likely a sensation only. However, if you're only getting this sensation after taking the pill, perhaps drink an adequate amount of water before and after taking the pill. You can also have some semisolid foods (mash, banana etc.) afterward just to be additionally sure.
Perhaps the pills are having rough edges, which during swallowing is irritating your throat.
If this problem is only occurring with this particular brand of pill, just talk to your doctor for a change of brand to a smaller sized/coated/smooth edged pills and see how it works.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take Care
Kind Regards
it seems like a sensation only, don't worry...
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concern...
Please note that our throat and subsequent parts are specially designed in a way so that nothing gets stuck. Considering the pill, it's even more unlikely, cause even if a small particle of it's got stuck somehow (which is practically not possible in an otherwise healthy individual, still it'll get dissolved within a few minutes only and end up going down to the stomach)...
If something gets stuck in the throat the symptoms would be quite severe similar to choking. So it's most likely a sensation only. However, if you're only getting this sensation after taking the pill, perhaps drink an adequate amount of water before and after taking the pill. You can also have some semisolid foods (mash, banana etc.) afterward just to be additionally sure.
Perhaps the pills are having rough edges, which during swallowing is irritating your throat.
If this problem is only occurring with this particular brand of pill, just talk to your doctor for a change of brand to a smaller sized/coated/smooth edged pills and see how it works.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for breaking it down for me as it makes more sense. I’ve been on this pill since last year of October 2017 and never had issues swallowing but just recently I felt it get stuck and I wasn’t choking or anything I just thought it did and I even went to get it checked that same day with X-rays and the doctor said nothing was there and ever since then I think I’m hypersensitive to swallowing pills. I also have anxiety so I think it’s that. But as long as I eat something after I swallow the pill I can be sure that it’s in my stomachs correct?
Brief Answer:
that's it, yes, don't worry...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
You've got that right.
That's it, yes. However, let me also point out that if you remain overly anxious about it every time during taking it, even the slightest touch of the pill can be interpreted as fear of pill getting stuck in your throat.
Just allay this anxiety. Yes, eat some semisolid food afterward as I've already mentioned earlier. No point getting an X-ray afterward as it won't show anything (simply because there isn't anything stuck).
Before taking it, just watch some movies, listen to some music and take it casually. Don't stress over it, don't be too conscious about it either. Things will be fine.
Hope this is clear now.
Take Care
Kind Regards
that's it, yes, don't worry...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
You've got that right.
That's it, yes. However, let me also point out that if you remain overly anxious about it every time during taking it, even the slightest touch of the pill can be interpreted as fear of pill getting stuck in your throat.
Just allay this anxiety. Yes, eat some semisolid food afterward as I've already mentioned earlier. No point getting an X-ray afterward as it won't show anything (simply because there isn't anything stuck).
Before taking it, just watch some movies, listen to some music and take it casually. Don't stress over it, don't be too conscious about it either. Things will be fine.
Hope this is clear now.
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you I’m going to try not to stress over it also I asked someone else but they didn’t have the answer to my question and I’m hoping you might have one, if hypothetically a pill does get stuck in the throat how long will it take to dissolve in your system?
Brief Answer:
I've already answered that in the very beginning of my answer...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
I can understand your concerns.
Which is why, if you go back to our first discussion, you'd see that I've already mentioned that at the very beginning.
"...... it'll get dissolved within a few minutes only and end up going down to the stomach)..."
Please don't worry about it...
Take Care
Kind Regards
I've already answered that in the very beginning of my answer...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
I can understand your concerns.
Which is why, if you go back to our first discussion, you'd see that I've already mentioned that at the very beginning.
"...... it'll get dissolved within a few minutes only and end up going down to the stomach)..."
Please don't worry about it...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Okay thank you I’ll try my best to not worry about it!
Brief Answer:
most welcome...
Detailed Answer:
Glad to be of service...
Most welcome anytime.
Take Care
Kind Regards
most welcome...
Detailed Answer:
Glad to be of service...
Most welcome anytime.
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you I also have another question, I ate something yesterday and I think it made me sick because I woke up this morning and had diarreah & I had body ache, so I drank my pill at 5 pm and I went to the bathroom at 9 pm so does diarreah affect the effectiveness of my birth control?
Brief Answer:
no, not likely in this scenario...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Well, an excessive amount of diarrhea could affect the absorption of the pills to some extent.
However, given your scenario, there seems to be ample time gap in between the pill intake and bathroom visit, so, not to worry. The effectiveness won't be affected.
Take Care
Kind Regards
no, not likely in this scenario...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Well, an excessive amount of diarrhea could affect the absorption of the pills to some extent.
However, given your scenario, there seems to be ample time gap in between the pill intake and bathroom visit, so, not to worry. The effectiveness won't be affected.
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Yeah I think I had very moderate diarreah because what happened was I ate the food that I believe made me sick the day before & I took my pill at 5pm & then the next day in the morning like 9 am I woke up with it & I probably had 3 watery stools during the day so the timeline on that would be starting with the day before, my BC pill at 5pm, 1st watery stool at 9am (next day), 2nd semi watery stool with soft stools 11:30 am, I took pepto Bismo for my upset stomach at 12 pm, birth control pill at 5pm, 3rd and last watery stool at 9:30 pm, and today I woke up way better with no signs of diarreah.
Brief Answer:
no need to worry...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Yes, it could be due to the food...No need to worry as your getting better already...
As I see, your follow-up counter is exhausted, so in case there are any further queries, kindly close this and open up a new query thread for further discussions...
Take Care
Kind Regards
no need to worry...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Yes, it could be due to the food...No need to worry as your getting better already...
As I see, your follow-up counter is exhausted, so in case there are any further queries, kindly close this and open up a new query thread for further discussions...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
