Tough Pill To Swallow

Not all pills are created equal, they come in all shapes, sizes and textures, and we found a pharmacologist to explain the difference:

Gel caps. They're soft and flexible and hold liquid which can be absorbed faster than other pills. The texture goes down easier, but they're usually bigger and tough for some people to swallow.

Quick-dissolve tablets. Put them under your tongue and the medication enters your bloodstream through the mucous membranes in your mouth. They work faster, but it's hard for manufacturers to make them taste good, so they're not as common.

Coated tablets. They're the easiest to swallow, but take longer to work, and because they dissolve in the small intestine, they can cause irritation.