How do I get my wife to take her meds? I've tried covering her pills with apple sauce, honey, or maple syrup. She sucks off the coating and spits out the pill.

I tried everything with my mom. She took every pill faithfully every day, then in one day she started to pocket them, hide them in her gums, etc. she would pretend she was putting them in her mouth and, with incredible talent, slip them in a napkin. She started to distrust why she was taking them. I am not sure what your wife is facing but for my mom, it was the dementia decline. I tried everything…yogurt, apple sauce, crushing (when it was possible), liquids. Med taking became a lengthy discussion where I took it very slow, explaining the benefit and praising her for taking them.

She loved Ensure juice. I did have success with her taking meds with her favorite drink.

We finally evaluated what she could remove from her med list, and what she could not do without, to make it less frightening for her.

I wish you success. It is a very difficult thing to manage.

Ask the pharmacist if her drugs can be crushed. Many can be and then add to the apple sauce or pudding.
Some drugs come in a liquid form.

Prescription pills are often extremely bitter, to the point where no food disguise can cover up the awful taste.

Some pills are not meant to be crushed or split as this affects the time-release mechanism and getting an all-at-once dump of the medication may have a bad effect.

Talk to your pharmacist about whether any of the medications come in patch form (not sure if she would it in liquid).

Struggled for years with this issue. My mom has dementia and when she was in a facility the staff could not get her to take because she didn't know what they were and you couldn't explain. I now have her caregivers crush (using a pill crusher) into a fine powder and add to chocolate ice cream. The combination of strong chocolate flavor, cold, and love of ice cream works every time.

One idea I've read is to use jam, because it isn't smooth in texture the pill is less noticeable. And unless she's vehemently opposed to the idea of medication don't try to sneak the pills into her, tell her what you are doing and remind her she needs to try to swallow the pill too.

Good Morning,

I would speak to the pharmacist for liquid form or tablets that you can break open, etc.

Some pills can be crushed but make sure you run this by the doctor first.

There are different price points for each kind dispensed. That's another whole forum.

I hope I was of some help. You sound like a good man.

Maybe it's time to let her stop taking her meds. We are not meant to live forever.

I found that my father started resisting his medications around the time he developed early dysphagia. In addition to his necessary medications for his dementia, blood pressure, and thyroid, the doctor also had him on many other vitamins and supplements. If I recall correctly, there were about eight additional supplements he was taking, some twice each day. We evaluated and removed those that were not necessary considering his late stage Alzheimer’s. At least for now, with fewer pills to swallow he has little difficulty and is no longer resistant.

You may consider crushing the pills ( but a pill crusher) and putting in a spoonful of applesauce, yogurt or pudding.

This worked well when my dad had trouble swallowing.

Maybe her doctor can eliminate some of the meds?

If crushing and mixing with some of the tasty things mentioned below doesn't work I would discuss this problem with the doctor and see what he recommends.