Not everyone carefully reads the attached instructions before taking the medicine. But it is especially important to familiarize yourself with the part where the tips for use are prescribed. Many believe that tablets can be washed down with any drink. But often the wrong combination of drug and drink can reduce the healing properties of the drug. Therefore, you need to know how to drink the tablets. A detailed answer to the question is presented in the article.
Dosage Forms
Preparations intended for oral administration have various forms. They are produced in the form of tablets, capsules, solutions, tinctures, infusions, dragees, pills, powders. The form affects the absorption rate of the active ingredient.
The most effective medications are pills. But they are not the same: on some there is a “glaze” shell, while others come without it. Such a coating is usually present when the tablet contains components that are aggressive to the stomach, or when the active substance needs to be protected from digestion by gastric juice. The breakdown of tablets with a shell occurs in the intestine.
There are drugs that have a multilayer protective coating. They have a long-lasting effect, since the active ingredient is released gradually. It is not necessary to break or grind glazed tablets, since with the destruction of the protective film, the active component is prematurely released.
Any tablets required to drink. This simplifies its swallowing, and also leads to the dissolution and absorption of the drug. Typically, the instructions indicate which drink is best used for this. In order for the drug to work, not cause side effects, you need to know how to drink different types of tablets. According to reviews, it is important to consider the opinions of experts.
Drinking water
Can I take pills with water? Sometimes in the instruction there are no special comments on this subject. Then you can choose ordinary water at room temperature: boiled or bottled, but without gas. It has the property of a solvent, but the formula of the drug does not change with it. According to reviews, many people use water for drinking. This is the safest type of liquid, suitable for most medicines.
You need to drink as much fluid as indicated in the annotation. Especially in the instructions, it is recommended to drink at least ½ cup of liquid, and not 1-2 sips. When there is not enough water, the tablet will not be dissolved in the stomach in a timely manner, will not begin to act. As a result, the body will not receive the entire portion of the active ingredient, but only part of what is in the drug. Is it possible to drink a tablet with sparkling water? This will be discussed in the next section.
Which water is suitable?
Can I drink pills with sparkling water? Do not do this. But should tablets be washed with mineral water? Doctors point out that there are warnings. In such a liquid there are many salts that are able to participate in reactions with the active component or shell of the tablet.
Alkaline mineral water is suitable for Aspirin, Streptocide, Phthalazole. Thanks to the alkaline environment, the duration of the drug increases, the elimination of toxins is simplified. If “Analgin” or “Tetracycline” is washed down with alkaline water, then the dosage should be controlled, since the absorption of drugs increases due to such water. Bottled water is now on sale, which is perfect for drinking tablets perfectly.
Therefore, it is not worth drinking tablets with carbonated water, and still or mineral water is just right. And Cola and sweet pops are not the best choice. Soda irritates the gastric mucosa, and when combined with drugs, this action is enhanced. When using "Cola" significantly reduces the therapeutic effect of many drugs.
Tea
It is better not to drink pills with tea. This is due to the fact that the drink from tea leaves includes phenolic compounds from tannins (also found in red wine). Why can not I drink pills with tea? Phenolic components are incompatible with codeine, aminophylline, cardiac glycosides, since absorption is impaired with them.
You should not drink tea if you take medicine with iron, since the mineral will not be absorbed. At different times, you should take this drink and antibiotics, gastric and cardiopreparations. Can I use antidepressant pills with tea? This combination leads to symptoms of overexcitation. And contraceptives will not work.
Coffee
How to drink pills other than water? Many people think that black coffee is suitable for this, they do not think about the consequences. This drink is incompatible with many drugs, as it reduces their effectiveness. This applies to vitamins, in particular vitamin C, in which the beneficial properties of coffee disappear. The drink should not be combined with homeopathic medicines, as they will not work.
There is another reason why you should not drink coffee - this is the diuretic effect of the drink. The medicine will be quickly removed from the body without having time to act. But there are times when coffee enhances the effect of a medical product. This happens with painkillers that contain caffeine. But then there is a risk of an overdose of the medicine.
It will not be effective to take drugs that regulate blood pressure, heart function. It is also a threat to a diseased cardiac system. You should not drink sleeping pills, because there will still be no result.
Milk
It is widely believed that it is useful to drink a pill with milk, since the product serves as a protection of the walls of the stomach from irritation. Sometimes this drink is combined with medicines. For example, with acetylsalicylic acid, non-steroidal drugs, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), iodine-containing, anti-tuberculosis and some hormonal agents.
But there is a list of drugs that can not be combined with this drink. Can I drink pills with milk, cardiac glycosides? To preserve the therapeutic effect, this is not worth doing. Another drink is not combined with caffeinated products, drugs for the treatment of ulcers, enzymes. Due to milk, the action of antibiotics of the tetracycline, penicillin, cephalosporin type is lost. Due to their reaction with calcium, a substance appears that cannot be absorbed by the body, so there will be no effect from taking the drug. Also, milk should not be consumed with iron-based preparations. This is also due to calcium, which does not allow iron to be absorbed.
Acid-resistant tablets are not compatible with milk. These drugs have a special membrane that protects against destruction by gastric juice. Such drugs act only in the intestines. If this product is washed down with milk, it will dissolve in the stomach, and the active ingredient will not enter the intestine, so there will be no result from the treatment. Often, manufacturers indicate how to drink pills, and what is better not to use.
Juices
Can I take a pill with juice? Many believe that if this drink is useful on its own, then when combined with drugs it will be only useful. But this is an erroneous opinion.
Vegetable and fruit juices are able to both reduce and enhance the therapeutic effect of some drugs. For example, Ampicillin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin lose their effect when combined with this drink. And “Aspirin”, “Paracetamol”, “Ibuprofen” and nitrouran preparations with acidic and vegetable juices enhance the effect.
If sulfanilamide is combined with tomato juice, then the antibacterial effect of the drug will significantly decrease. The reason is the reaction with folic acid, which is in the drink. Still, this group of drugs should not be washed down with acidic drinks. These are alkalis. Between the substances there will be a chemical reaction, because of which the effect of the drug is leveled.
Psychostimulants should not be combined with pineapple or grape juice. This can lead to a hypertensive crisis. The combination of antacids and acid juices is controversial. Medicines of this group protect the gastric mucosa from irritation with hydrochloric acid and bile. And fruit acids, which are in acidic drinks, lead to the destruction of the protective layer on the walls of the stomach, and increase the acidity in it.
Drugs with warfarin can not be washed down with cranberry juice, otherwise negative consequences are likely. Berries have blood-thinning ingredients. Due to an overdose of components, bleeding may occur.
According to doctors, a combination of tablets with grapefruit juice is dangerous. This is due to the fact that the drink has various components that affect the enzymatic work of the liver, which is why chemical components can have an unpredictable effect. Grapefruit juice should not be combined with heart medications, antidepressants, antibiotics, anti-allergy drugs, fungi or viruses, and medicines that lower blood pressure. Acid juices are not used for washing tablets in the shell, as this is dangerous for the digestive system.
Compote or jelly
Many people like drinks such as jelly and compote. They are tasty and healthy. Compotes have vitamins and other nutrients, and jelly has an enveloping effect, which has a positive effect on gastritis or stomach ulcers.
Although the drinks are healthy, they should not be combined with medical supplies. If the tablet is washed with jelly, then the therapeutic effect will significantly decrease. Compote, saturated with fruit acids, changes the pharmacological effect of drugs, especially those that treat hypertension, heartburn.
Alcohol
No alcohol can be combined with drugs. Such drinks not only level the therapeutic effect. Alcohol also leads to chemical reactions, due to which severe poisoning, dysfunction of the internal organs and psyche appear. For example, many cough or headache remedies contain codeine, which reacts with ethyl alcohol, it leads to inhibition of respiratory function. If a glass of wine is drunk on the date of taking codeine, it is advisable not to take the pill.
It is dangerous to combine alcohol with sleeping pills, antidepressants, analgesics, antibiotics, antipyretic and anti-allergic drugs, since ethanol increases the effect of these drugs and significantly increases the load on the liver.
With a regular combination of alcohol with Aspirin, a stomach ulcer may appear. A means to lower blood sugar can lead to hypoglycemia. Soluble cold medications with ethanol increase blood pressure.
Features of the absorption of tablets
To provide a therapeutic effect, the medicine must enter the bloodstream. And for this, the active component is absorbed through the walls of the stomach or intestines. A strong effect on this process has an acidic environment, which is different in different places of the digestive tract. Acidic drugs are usually absorbed in the stomach, and alkaline drugs in the intestines.
Another test that a drug undergoes in the body is the action of enzymes. Many products lose contact with food enzymes. This applies to protein and polypeptide components, for example, insulin and vasopressin. Some hormones cannot work with enzymes.
There are tablets that are not swallowed, but dissolved in the oral cavity. This method of administration allows the main component to enter the bloodstream quickly without passing through the liver. These are not all factors affecting the absorption and effect of drugs. Of great importance is food, which affects the formation of gastric juice and enzymes in different ways, which affects the absorption of tablets.
When is it better to take pills?
If there are no special instructions in the instructions for the medicine, this does not mean that it can be taken at any time. Usually tablets are taken 20-30 minutes before a meal, when the active ingredient is absorbed more easily.
If an acid-base medium is required for its absorption, the instructions indicate the exact period of administration of the drug. Often, eating affects the duration of the drug.
For half an hour, the following is expected:
- drugs acting on the formation of gastric juice;
- hormonal drugs;
- preparations based on live bacteria;
- homeopathic medicines;
- decoctions of herbs.
During the meal, take enzymes that improve the absorption of foods. There are funds that you need to take after eating. This applies to most medications, drugs that irritate the gastric mucosa, vitamins and dietary supplements.
Thus, different drinks are used for drinking tablets. This information should be sought in the instructions for a particular tool. Taking into account the recommendations presented in the article will make the action of any drug more effective.