It’s not actually stuck, and you can’t do anything to relieve the feeling except wait.
In: Biology
Some pills are better coated than others, some aren’t coated at all. When a pill hits the back of the throat it can cling for a moment, soak up moisture and leave a dry spot that still feels “different” even after the pill already moved on.
That constricting sensation further down is the musculature acting up. The pill might be there, but it’s possible to get such esophagus cramps even when drinking water or not doing anything. These impressions aren’t a good indicator of what’s actually going on. Most “stuck fishbones” are long gone too, it’s only the irritation that still lingers (but sometimes it *is* still there, so if the sensation just won’t stop, better get that checked).
With most pills, actually getting them stuck for a bit isn’t a problem. They’re coated/prepared to only dissolve where they need to. Except for things like bisphosphonates which can ulcerate the esophagus. Those have to go down for sure and quickly. Only take such drugs when upright and with plenty liquid.
Another surprisingly common, related question (usually with hormonal birth control): “The pill got stuck in my throat and I had to sneeze, did I sneeze the pill out without noticing and have to take another one?” No. A) The pill probably went down and it’s just that lingering impression that it’s still there B) Sneezing out stuff from the esophagus is pretty uncommon (can happen, especially when someone’s laughing) C) The airstream of a sneeze can reach 180km/h. Even a small pill launched across the room at such speed would be noticeable.
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