We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

We all take shortcuts.

As famously written by J.R.R.

woman taking pill with water

Tolkien himself, “shortcuts make long delays” (viaGoodreads).

Shortcuts, at their worst, can prove more dangerous than helpful.

Pharmacist Matthew Britt, RPH, confirmed the likelihood of this story with Self.

woman clutches throat in pain

To avoid these (admittedly rare yet painful) ulcers, take your medication with a gulp of water.

Truly a vicious cycle.

Fortunately, some pill-taking methods work to combat anxiety.

close up on pill capsules

For instance,healthlinerecommends concentrating on the practice of swallowing itself.

Also, considertherapist-approved methods of coping with the anxiety itself.

Certain products, too, can turn a hard pill to swallow into something more manageable.

Smaller children also may find it helpful to swallow pills submerged in a cup of applesauce or pudding.