Why not chew medication when is says to swallow?

Answer 1

Well, it depends. If your pill is supposed to be chewed, then chew it. But if it is not supposed to be chewed, I would not recommend chewing it. It might have a different effect, depending on the type of pill.

A bit more:

With some medications it is dangerous to chew them, or even cut them in half, because they are time released, which could result in you receiving an overdose of the medication.

Also, some medications have multiple layers, that is one med on the inside with another in the center, another on the outside. Chewing or cutting theses can have serious consequences, too. Never cut, chew or break pills in any way without first consulting your pharmacist.

Answer 2

For several reasons; the medication may taste very nasty; the medication may have been designed to release its contents over time in the stomach and if you chew it up this property will be destroyed.