Why Are Some Medicines Taken Before Meals And Others After?
Many people think that the time the medication is taken does not influence the effect that the drug will trigger. It is the duty of the doctor and pharmacist to train and inform patients well on how to take drugs, since there are some drugs that are taken before meals and others afterwards due to their chemical properties.
Each drug has its own particularities of use. It is essential to know that there are some medications that must be administered with food and there are others that must be taken without food, away from lunch and dinner times.
Reasons why some medicines are taken with food
When a company launches a new drug on the market, it has previously carried out numerous studies and trials in order to evaluate a series of parameters such as efficacy, safety or tolerance. However, the different routes of administration or the bioavailability of the drug once administered are also studied.
In this way, they can conclude what is the ideal dose, the maximum tolerated or the minimum effective dose. Some of the reasons why it is concluded that certain medications should be administered with food in the stomach are:
- Improves drug absorption : due to the chemical characteristics of some drugs, when mixed with food, their absorption through the gastric mucosa or intestine is improved.
- Reduce some adverse effects on the digestive system : Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, can cause a gastric ulcer as an adverse reaction when used for a long time. This risk is greatly increased when administered on an empty stomach. It is for this reason that it is always recommended to administer them with food in the stomach.
- Improves adherence to treatment : many times the professional wants the patient to remember the administration guidelines. If he is told that it is a pill after each meal, it is easier for him to take the corresponding medication. However, in this case it is not so important that the drug is taken with food or without food; what is tried is to improve the adherence.
Reasons why some medicines are taken without food
On the contrary, there are medications that must be administered under fasting conditions. Normally, their justification is based on the fact that the mixture of the active principle with the food will negatively affect the absorption of the chemical, and therefore its effectiveness.
When a doctor indicates that the drug should be taken on an empty stomach, it means that the drug should be taken at least half an hour before the first meal, or 2 hours after the last. This ensures that it is almost completely absorbed. An example of this situation is found with the administration of some treatments for osteoporosis and hypothyroidism.
Follow the instructions for use
All medicines have instructions for use that must be followed when taking them. Misuse of drugs poses a danger to the patient, since they are designed to be effective under certain conditions.
All the information related to the characteristics and the way of administration of the same appears in the leaflet of the medicines. If you take a drug that is designed to be administered on a full stomach on an empty stomach, the effects it will trigger will be less effective.
We encourage you to consult these documents when you are going to take a drug about which you do not have enough information, as well as to consult with your doctor or pharmacist all the doubts that may arise. Successful results depend to a great extent on good administration.
