The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word PILLS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
P
I
L
L
S
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PILLS mean?
PILLS noun- A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication.
- (definite, i.e. used with "the") Contraceptive medication, usually in the form of a pill to be taken by a woman; an oral contraceptive pill.
- A comical or entertaining person.
- A contemptible, annoying, or unpleasant person.
- A small piece of any substance, for example a ball of fibres formed on the surface of a textile by rubbing.
- A baseball.
- A bullet (projectile).
- A rounded rectangle indicating the tag or category that an item belongs to.
- Of a woven fabric surface, to form small matted balls of fiber.
- To form into the shape of a pill.
- To medicate with pills.
- To persuade or convince someone of something.
- The peel or skin.
- To peel; to remove the outer layer of hair, skin, or bark.
- To peel; to make by removing the skin.
- To be peeled; to peel off in flakes.
- To pillage; to despoil or impoverish.
- An inlet on the coast; a small tidal pool or bay.