To facilitate swallowing solid oral medications, where should the drug be placed?

Placing the solid oral medication on the back of the tongue is the most effective method for facilitating swallowing. This location takes advantage of the natural reflex to swallow, which is stronger at the back of the mouth. When a person places the medication toward the back of the tongue, it can trigger the swallowing reflex more effectively, making it easier for the medication to be swallowed without the risk of choking or gagging.

In comparison, placing the medication on the tongue tip may not elicit the swallowing reflex strongly enough, leading to difficulty in swallowing the tablet. Putting the medication under the tongue is typically reserved for sublingual medications, which dissolve and enter the bloodstream directly through the tissues there; this is not applicable for solid oral medications meant to be swallowed whole. Mixing the medication in food can cause issues such as altering the effectiveness of the medication, especially if it is designed to be administered on an empty stomach or if it has a specific release mechanism that food could interfere with.