A member asked:

I just took one of my lortabs and i think it's stuck in my throat can this cut my breathing off? i can still talk swallow and all it just feels stuck when i swallowed it i felt it touched my throat

5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

No: Swallowing and breathing use different pathways. The esophagus is for swallowing, the trachea is for breathing. You can't do both at the same time. If a pill somehow got into your trachea (airway), you would choke and cough violently. Often a pill can scratch the throat and make it feel like there is something still there. If you are drinking, the pill is gone. The feeling will resolve in a day.

Answered 1/3/2016

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Dr. Corey Clay answered

Specializes in Allergy and Immunology

Dangerous: It is unlikely to affect breathing in any way. If a pill remains in the esophagus, it can cause a significant amount of irritation/erosion. Conversely, having a pill stuck in the esophagus only briefly, before migrating to the stomach, can cause a residual feeling that it is still stuck. Drink plenty of water and trust your instincts as to whether you should have an urgent examination.

Answered 2/11/2017

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