Hard pill to swallow: Why your medication routine might be due for a rethink

Millions of Australians take oral medications every single day. For many, it’s simply routine. But for a significant number, up to 40%*, swallowing tablets or capsules is genuinely difficult, uncomfortable, or even distressing.

This isn’t a problem confined to elderly residents in aged care. Pill dysphagia (the medical term for difficulty swallowing tablets) affects people across all age groups. Children, adults recovering from illness or surgery, and older people living with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or dementia can all struggle with what appears to be a simple daily task.

The trouble is, when tablets are hard to swallow, people often turn to solutions that seem perfectly sensible but can potentially alter efficacy and cause harm.

The hidden risks of common workarounds

When tablets are difficult to get down, many people instinctively reach for food. Apple purée, yoghurt, and jam are popular choices. Others crush their tablets and mix them into whatever is on hand.

It feels like practical problem-solving. But there are some important things worth knowing.

Crushing isn’t always safe. Many medications, including slow-release or enteric-coated tablets, must not be crushed. Doing so can increase the risk of side effects, reduce the therapeutic effect, or mean the person simply doesn’t receive the right dose. Always check with a pharmacist before altering any medication.

Food can interfere with medication absorption. Research has shown that mixing crushed tablets into foods and thickened liquids can significantly reduce the rate at which a medication dissolves and becomes available to the body. Foods and drinks aren’t designed to work with medications.

Thickened liquids present a particular challenge. For people with dysphagia who are already on thickened fluids, mixing crushed tablets into those fluids can further interfere with drug absorption due to the sticky, thick nature of the gum found in thickeners.

The bottom line? Food is, ideally, for nutrition and enjoyment, not for delivering medications.

A purpose-built solution: Gloup medication lubricant

This is precisely the problem that Gloup was designed to solve.

Gloup is a slippery gel made from 100% natural, food-grade ingredients. It works by encapsulating a whole tablet or capsule, making it far easier to slide from the mouth and down the throat without getting stuck.

Unlike apple purée or yoghurt, Gloup was specifically formulated for use with medications. Its key ingredients, maltodextrin and a seaweed-derived carrageenan, break down almost immediately upon reaching the acidic environment of the stomach, meaning Gloup has minimal to no impact on medication absorption. Importantly, it has no known interactions with medications.

What the research says

Recent research published by the University of Queensland concluded that mixing whole tablets with Gloup was considered bioequivalent to swallowing whole tablets with water.*

Gloup’s effectiveness isn’t purely anecdotal. A survey of 355 healthcare workers across aged care facilities in Australia found that among those who had used a medication lubricant, 89% agreed it was an effective method to facilitate medication swallowing in residents.

Staff reported the main benefits as easier medication administration (49%), a reduced need to crush medications (34%), and better adherence with medications (33%)*.

Gloup has also been independently assessed against the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework, the internationally recognised system used by clinicians to classify the thickness of foods and fluids for people with swallowing difficulties.

Gloup is listed on Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) register as a Class I medical device. In 2025, it supported over 25 million medication administrations across Australia.

Who can benefit from Gloup?

Gloup can be used by anyone who struggles to swallow tablets or capsules, not just those with a formal dysphagia diagnosis. This includes:

• Older adults who find tablets increasingly difficult to swallow
• People with dry mouth (a common side effect of many medications)
• People who experience anxiety or hesitation around swallowing pills
• Residents in aged care who require multiple daily medications
• Children transitioning to tablets

Gloup is free from gluten, gelatine, lactose, and other common allergens, making it suitable for people with dietary restrictions. The raspberry-flavoured variety is low in sugar. All varieties have a pleasant taste that can help mask the bitterness of medications, a welcome bonus for anyone who has grimaced at the taste of a crushed tablet.

How to use Gloup

Using Gloup is straightforward:

1. Taste Gloup on its own first, to get used to the texture and flavour.
2. Place your tablet or capsule on a spoon.
3. Add approximately 5 mL of Gloup, ensuring the tablet is completely covered.
4. Swallow all at once.

No crushing. No mixing into food. No wondering whether your medication is still working as intended.

For those who have been crushing tablets out of necessity, Gloup often removes the need to do so, allowing tablets to be taken whole as intended. However, if crushing has been advised by a healthcare professional, Gloup can be mixed with crushed medications by placing the crushed medication between two layers of Gloup, or by stirring it through.

Available in five flavours, two thickness levels

Gloup comes in two thickness levels to suit individual needs:

• Gloup (Moderately Thick / IDDSI Level 3): Available in raspberry, orange, lemon/lime, and strawberry-banana flavours
• Gloup Forte (Extremely Thick / IDDSI Level 4): Available in vanilla flavour

Having options matters, not just for personal taste preference, but because the right thickness level can make a meaningful difference for people with different swallowing profiles.

The takeaway

Difficulty swallowing tablets is far more common than most people realise, and the makeshift solutions many reach for can carry real risks. A purpose-built medication lubricant like Gloup offers a clinically supported, simple alternative that assists both the person taking the medication and the integrity of the medication itself.

If you or someone in your care struggles with tablets, it’s worth trying something that was actually designed for the job.

Gloup is available in pharmacies, through wholesalers, and online at gloup.com.au

Follow Gloup Australia on Instagram and Facebook for tips and updates.

For people with moderate to severe dysphagia, consult a healthcare professional before use. Always check with your pharmacist before altering or crushing any medication.

*Clinical evidence available upon request by contacting [email protected]