Why are glucosamine tablets so large?

I have had to stop taking them for that reason.
I was in danger of choking, I tried cutting in half but still couldn’t swallow them which may have been remembering the choking sensation.

Have you tried drinking from a bottle?
It might help.

I don’t understand that nanaK do you mean as opposed to a glass?

'Have you tried drinking from a bottle?
It might help.'

No, NanaK54 - but good idea. Even if there's no glucosamine in it!

Seriously, I was thinking about squashing the tabs and mixing with water. What a faff, though.

You could save your money and stop the glucosamine. There is very little evidence of significant benefit. I took it for about 15 years and then decided to stop, with no noticeable effect.

When I told my GP I was taking it he asked why!!

I had to stop too because of choking but I haven't felt any difference either.

Usedtobeblonde

I don’t understand that nanaK do you mean as opposed to a glass?

Yes, exactly that.

I have trouble swallowing large tablets. But I have found that lifting my head up to swallow was the wrong technique. I now keep my head facing forwards, very slightly down, which opens up the throat more. I never knew this before, but it really has helped. Maybe try it.

I find it helps to swill the tablets or capsules with the water in my mouth before I try to swallow them, so they're lubricated rather than dry.
Also agree with luvlyjubly about keeping the head level or slightly down.

I dont take it but I do give it to my elderly dog, and however its made it crumbles so to hide in his dinner, maybe try finding a different brand?

Try these

I break the large Glucosamine tablets in half. The Holland & Barrett ones have an indentation half-way across to help you do this.

It is easier than trying to swallow a whole solid tablet, but I have to admit the sharp edge of a broken half sometimes gets briefly stuck at the top of my throat - but I solve that problem by taking a great big gulp of water to help it go down. This seems to work. I am reluctant to give them up altogether!!!

There must be a good reason why they cannot make them smaller - or they would, surely???

I've found recently that wallowing any kind of round tablets causes me a problem but torpedo shaped ones are OK.

I take mine embedded in a teaspoon of Stockwell chocolate spread. Any liquid just gets it stuck in my throat.

Re; using chocolate spead, maybe yogurt or icecream? I was once told to swallow some water first then another mouthful with the tablet.

I thought the benefits of glucosamine had been debunked long ago.
Am I wrong?

I read years ago that there is no evidence they work. Save your money!

I get capsules from Healthspan in the Channel Islands

I saw a ENT surgeon thirty years ago. He stuck a camera down my throat and quickly removed it. Apparently I have a very small throat so struggle with all tablets. My pharmacist is aware and gives me smaller blood pressure tablets, the only medication necessary for me to take and they think I may no longer need them soon.
I also have a bit of arthritis in the left knee and about every three months take a Flarin which has a slippery coating.
Hope you can all manage your medication.

Science has proven that there is no real benefit so I stopped taking it years ago.....do you find it makes a difference to you? If so you'll find a way

Have a read of Xand Van Tulleken’s latest book about supplements….an eye opener about the industry….

I place them longways not sideways towards the back of my tongue with the narrow edge in contact with my tongue.

Swallow with a big gulp of tea, works most times for me.

I know there are two camps of belief of glucosamine's effectiveness. All I can say is that it works for me.

Yes, they definitely work for me. I’ve been taking high dose for years now, but yes they are hard to swallow. I bite them into 3 pieces.
It was my doctor that originally prescribed them, but then that was stopped on NHS so I started buying them myself.
I did try coming off them, but was in pain with my hands again, so started to take them again, and no problems since.
Maybe they might not work for all, but definitely do for me.
I also give my dog the glucosamine animal version, when he was 2 he developed a limp after running. He’s 11 now and still running around pain free.