Health - is it possible for a pill to go into your lungs after swallowing it?

[insidiousvertigo]

SWIM has recently taken some Skelaxin (muscle relaxant). He took two and a half pills. He broke the pills into halves, then swallowed them. Soon after, he noticed a slight discomfort in the area of the heart / left lung. He was wondering if he should worry, and if it is even possible for a pill that is swallowed (even if it is broken in half) can go to the lungs. SWIM thanks anyone for their input.

[kareena]

Unless SWIY was trying to huff them he's got no problems. And you'd know about it if it went into your lungs, it would be more than a slight discomfort.
When you swallow your epiglottis covers your trachea so nothing goes down there but instead goes down your oesophagus into your stomach.

[Mint boi]

as kareena said you'd kow about it if something that big went into your lungs, try drinking some water!

[insidiousvertigo]

thanks for the replies!

[eltimmy]

>
When you swallow your epiglottis covers your trachea so nothing goes down there but instead goes down your oesophagus into your stomach.

It is rare for this to happen. However, the reflex has been reported to be interfered with in many old patients, especially those with movement disorders like PD.

There is another way that pill swallowing might be interfered with. Two of SWIM's friends have swallowed pills down the "wrong pipe", while high on psychedelics.

No pills went into the lungs, but that too is possible. SWIM's friends were able to cough up their pills.

It is extremely discomforting. If a pill is in your esophagus or lung, it will hurt quite a lot. As the pill dissolves, it can swell and cause further problems.

Insidious, you may want to see a doctor if you seriously suspect this may have happened to you.

[insidiousvertigo]

thanks . SWIM thinks that everything is fine as there is no longer any discomfort. SWIM tends to worry for simple things at times, but relaxes after a while. thanks everyone!

[insidiousvertigo]

now swim is feeling discomfort in the left area of his torso, maily in the lung area, back area, right below the left shoulder blade, and sometimes in the arm. not of these are pains, but discomforts. if a pill did get lodged in my lung, would it dissolve? thanks.

[eltimmy]

>if a pill did get lodged in my lung, would it dissolve?

Not naturally, it's not a mucous membrane and that's an unnaturally large amount of material. I recommend SWIY sees a good doctor.

Reputation Comments on this post:

good looking out

[toe]

^
Excellent advice, let's don't screw around with chest pain.

Expanding on what SWIe mentioned in the first post regarding the epiglottis, it's also possible to inadvertantly inhale particles while one is, shall we say, unswallowing. It's the primary cause of bacterial pneumonia (=the variety that kills monkeys dead) and has at least as much to do with lifestyle as age. Basically, those who tend to vomit often/ while less than fully coherent are more prone to it.

Not entirely off-topic, as excruciating back spasms are one of the symptoms.