Doctor Olga Ulankina: tea, coffee, sparkling water or juice should not be used when taking medications.
Doctor Ulankina explained in an interview why medications should not be used wash down with inappropriate drinks.
Coffee. According to Ulankina, not only should you not wash down the medication you take with coffee, but you should also not take medications immediately after drinking coffee. At least an hour should pass after consuming it, but the doctor recommends increasing the pause to two hours.
“Caffeine can affect the rate of breakdown of drugs in the liver, and therefore reduce or increase their concentration in the blood,” the doctor told Life.
- Caffeine can reduce the effect of antidepressants, some medications for pain relief, blood pressure medications.
- Caffeine may enhance the effect of some hormonal contraceptives.
Carbonated water.Ulankina explained that under the influence of gas, the process of dissolving the medicine in the stomach accelerates, and also increases the risk of side effects – this can irritate and damage the mucous membrane of the digestive organ.
Juices. Their intake changes the the balance of acidity in the stomach, which affects the dissolution and absorption of the medicine.
Milk. Another inappropriate drink to wash down medications. Microelements in milk are able to bind to the components of medications, which makes the drugs significantly less effective.
But in some cases, milk is recommended for patients to take together with medicine – as a rule, this is done to protect the stomach from the too aggressive chemical effects of the drug.
Tea. Doctor Ulankina warned:
“Tea affects medications in the same way as carbonated water, milk or juice; it is better not to combine the drink with taking them.”
The specialist emphasized that you should take medications only with clean drinking water.
Previously, the MedikForum.ru portal wrote about why you don’t need to wash eggs and meat before cooking.
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Olga Ulankina Health, expert doctor at the Hemotest laboratory