I use an electric pill grinder to reduce all my wife’s tablets to a fine powder. I then dissolve the powder in fruit juice and she drinks the liqiud through a straw.

This technique should not be used for time-released tablets (fortunately, my wife does not take any). I also find that for capsules, the gelatin casing does not grind well, so I open the casing and add the powdered medication to the ground up tablets before adding the fruit juice.

(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators) PM ET Paw Anytime you feel a need to ask I can probably help with just about anything. Afterall, this fight is one that nobody can just go through all alone. I hope to keep in touch with you in the future. I am Steven D. Egan. I retired after serving in the US Army for 20 years. That is when I brought my family to Fort Knox, KY in order for us to settle in Radcliff, KY. Then a few years later I was offered a Civil Service Employee position. In 2019 I had a CATSCAN performed because I was having some mild memory issues. It took my symptoms until the latter part of 2021 to become enough that management was not comfortable with keeping me on board. So. I took almost five months off as Annual Leave. That leave ended 31 Dec 2021. That was just one year earlier than I wanted to retire. The only reason I wanted to retire effective 1 January 2022. That way I would not have to submit for an increase in compensation. Take care friend and you know where to find me!

Steven D. Egan
US Army, Retired

I am Steven D. Egan. I am a retiree from the US Army and US Army Civil Service Corps. I was diagnosed in August 2019 following a CATSCAN. I have been diagnosed as having Early Onset Alzheimer's.
I have a question regarding "Crushing Medications" prior to giving it to patient. If a pill is designed for long term release of medication wouldn't crushing the pill allow for "immediate dissemination of the tablet as an "overdose"? I understand the intent of the person crushing the tablet but worry about possible liability issues should the patient go into a comatose state or worse? I am 26 months into my diagnosis, and I am on a total of 11 medications to control the disease. Additionally, I have three medications to maintain my nighttime sleep patterns. FYI: I usually go to bed between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM nightly. I generally wake up between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM. My list of "hallucinations and nightmares" is rather small compared to one year ago. A combination of medications to treat symptoms and the new use of Winter or summer versions of the 15 Pound Weighted Blankets has eliminated my visits from medieval gladiators has virtually vanished. The blankets are not exactly cheap either. run between $50 and $75 depending on where you go to shop for them. I found both at different times in one location; Kohls! After purchasing them I knew that I would be covered! Did you get the joke!

Steven D. Egan
US Army, Retired

Thank you for your advice! I will need to get a pill crusher. I did have better luck today, thankfully! :-)

I have a pill crusher and I crush up all of his pills and mix them in him applesauce or fruit on the bottom yogurt. He loves the sweet fruity taste and eats it right up.