When you swallow a pill without water, you cause harm to your esophagus. This is because the pill or tablet can cause a minor tear while passing through the esophagus.
The pill can cause irritation and inflammation in the esophagus.This can lead to heartburn and chest pain and even bleeding. This also depends on the size of the pill or tablet that your are taking
There are no pain nerves in the esophagus. Hence, feeling any immediate pain is difficult. This is an issue, since you do not know whether the pill has gone all the way down. The esophagus is made up of delicate tissue and can be damaged if the pill gets stuck. This can lead to severe dehydration and even painful bleeding.
If swallowing pills without water is a regular practice, then it can result in ulcers in the esophagus. A study from the Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology states that any kind of drug can cause ulceration in the esophagus.Even easily chewable vitamin C tabs can cause issues and hence it is better to swallow them with water or dissolve them in your saliva first and then swallow.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Drink your tablet or pill with a glass of water or two. In an entire day, if you consume a minimum of eight glasses of water, then chances of harming your esophagus are less. You should also swallow pills standing up or sitting down, never take them while lying down.