Many kids/teens and even adults can have trouble swallowing medication.

It can be a difficult decision to take medication for ADHD, but once you’ve made that decision, it can be challenging if your child, your teen, or even you can’t swallow the medicine.

In Canada, there are several medicines which are available in forms which don’t need one to swallow a pill. These include:

• Adderall XR: the capsule can be opened and sprinkled, and the beads can go in a spoon or yoghurt, apple sauce or ice cream
• Biphentin: the capsule can be opened and sprinkled, and the beads can go in a spoon or yoghurt, apple sauce or ice cream
• Foquest: the capsule can be opened and sprinkled, and the beads can go in a spoon or yoghurt, apple sauce or ice cream
• Vyvanse:
  • Vyvanse capsule: it can be opened and the powder sprinkled into water/juice, yoghurt or ice cream
  • Vyvanse chewable: this is the first chewable ADHD medication in Canada. The pill can be chewed

In other countries, there are different options of medications which can be used for people who can’t swallow pills. The most options are available in the USA.

If you are wanting to or needing to try a medicine that doesn’t come in any other form than a pill that has to be swallowed, you may benefit from some training on how to swallow a pill.

A great resource is this youtube video from Dr. Kaplan in Calgary who did a research project on how to teach kids to swallow pills.

Watch the video, and then practice the steps. You may be able to achieve success and use a new medicine that is needed.

The most important thing is to not put too much pressure on your child/teen (or yourself). Practice, and take it easy. It should come with time!