In the Artorias of the Abyss DLC released on both PC as part of the Prepare to Die edition and on Xbox 360 and PS3, you travel back in time to an era not completely swallowed by the abyss, to the sunset of this civilization just before its deep, dark night.
Some vitamin pills can be crushed and swallowed or mixed with food, although they may taste bitter because they are designed to be swallowed whole and not tasted.