Many medications should be taken with food, while others are best taken with food. drugs on an empty stomach.
From Infosalusreveal that chronic patients, people who regularly use laxatives or antacids, or those under treatment with antidepressants are the most susceptible to suffering from a interaction between nutrients and drugs.
Among the Medicines that should be taken with meals There are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): if they are taken on an empty stomach, they are not absorbed well, and can also irritate the gastric mucosa.
In the case of some supplements, such as vitamin D, which is fat-soluble, it is advisable to take them with a meal rich in fat to ensure better absorption. With magnesium, a full stomach will reduce side effects such as stomach upset and diarrhea.
Which medications should be taken on an empty stomach or before meals so as not to hinder their effectiveness or cause negative interactions? Some medications will not work at all, and others will cause the amount of medication in your blood to drop to potentially dangerous levels.
Antibiotics
The usual thing is Take antibiotics one or two hours after meals.since food delays absorption, although it does not alter the effect of the dose.
In the case of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, these specifically can prevent the body from absorbing some antibiotics, such as those in the tetracycline class and ciprofloxacin.
“It is best to avoid foods containing calcium one hour before or two hours after taking one of these antibiotics,” AARP advises.
Iron supplements
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, with water or fruit juice, about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.”
However, to reduce the chance of stomach upset, Iron can be taken with food or immediately after meals.
Statins
In the case of the statins —medicines used to lower blood cholesterol levels—are most effective when taken before bedtime. The reason is that Cholesterol production in the liver is highest after midnight and less in the morning and early afternoon hours, according toAARP.
Some foods can cause problems by allowing a more of the drug enters the bloodstreamsuch as orange or grapefruit juice. As a result, according to AARP, “the drug stays in the blood and builds up, increasing the risk of side effects, such as muscle pain.”
However, since Medline PlusThey point out that, in general, there is no need to avoid moderate amounts of grapefruit juice in the diet.” You can drink one glass a day.
From Eat This Not ThatThey point out that the same is true for some medications used to treat high blood pressure (Procardia or Adalat CC) or abnormal heart rhythm (Pacerone, or Cordarone).
Medications for thyroid
Medications such as levothyroxine (Synthroid) and medications used to treat osteoporosis, such as alendronate (Fosamax) and ibandronate (Boniva), should be taken without food, which can hinder absorption.
AARP notes that eating soy flour, nuts and other high-fiber foods may reduce the effectiveness of levothyroxine, a drug used to treat an underactive thyroid gland.
Something similar happens if you take digoxina drug intended to treat heart failure: the most indicated isTake the medicine at least 2 hours before or after eating high-fiber meals or snacks.
Anticoagulants
According to AARP, one of the most well-known food-drug interactions is between the blood thinner warfarin (brand names Jantoven and Coumadin) and foods containing vitamin K, such as broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, spinach, Swiss chard, seaweed and other leafy greens.
These types of vegetables can impair the effectiveness of the prescribed medication and inhibit its ability to stop or prevent blood clottingIt is best to consult your doctor about the parameters you should follow with your diet in this regard.
There are more cases: Bananas and other potassium-rich foods do not mix well with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)treated to reduce blood pressure, so you have to be careful with their consumption and also take the drug one hour before meals.
Another less known interaction is that of some of the new generation antihistamines with acidic juices such as grapefruit, orange or apple, which can negatively affect absorption and neutralize the effect of the drugs. Avoid juices for 2 to 4 hours after taking one of these antihistamines.
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