Why must some medicines be taken with or after food?

Medicines are substances that are used to cure or prevent illness. Medications can also be used to treat certain disorders or health problems. Medicines can be taken orally, applied locally, injected, inhaled, or injected into body orifices, among other methods.

How do you know if you should take your medicine before or after eating?

The package leaflet usually includes instructions on how to take the medicine. If you don’t have access to such a pamphlet, pharmacists can provide you with the necessary information.

The bioavailability of medicines in our bodies is affected by whether they are taken before or after food. The medicine’s effectiveness will be harmed by low bioavailability. As a result, it’s critical to take your medicine in the proper sequence.

Advantages of taking medicines with food:

• To alleviate the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
• Indigestion, stomach inflammation, and ulcers are some of the negative consequences of stomach irritation.
• To alleviate symptoms including heartburn, reflux, and indigestion.
• To ensure that the drug is appropriately absorbed into the circulation
• To prevent the drug from being rinsed away.
• Enzyme supplements, which can help patients with chronic pancreatitis, should be taken with food to aid in the digestion of the meal.

Why some medicines should be taken with or after food and how absorption is affected by it?

Eating food causes a variety of physiological changes in the gut, including increased blood flow, bile production, and changes in the pH (acidity) and motility of the gut. These physiological changes can affect the amount of medicine absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream, affecting the body’s response to the medication.

Food can act as a physical barrier between the surface of the gut wall and the bloodstream, preventing certain drugs from being absorbed.

Certain food ingredients, such as calcium or iron, may bind to certain drugs. This can reduce absorption into the bloodstream, resulting in decreased efficacy. As a result, osteoporosis medications must be taken on an empty stomach with only water.

Certain drugs can be taken with food to lessen the chance of negative effects. To lessen the danger of low blood sugar, diabetes medications should be taken with food.

It’s also a good idea to take drugs like ibuprofen (for pain and inflammation) or metformin (for diabetes) with food to avoid nausea and stomach discomfort.

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