Optimizing Medication Effectiveness: When to Take Medications on an Empty Stomach

2023-11-28 14:15:04

There are medications that must be taken on an empty stomach because taking food alters their effectiveness.

Some medications have very low bioavailability, meaning that only a small fraction is absorbed by the body. It is important not to interfere with this absorption, in which case the effectiveness would be compromised. Gold foods can decrease or slow their absorptionthis is why they must be taken on an empty stomach either between 30 minutes and 1 hour before meals or 2-3 hours following. It’s the case :

► des biphosphonates : drugs used once morest osteoporosis and other bone diseases which have a bioavailability of only 1 to 5% and which have very strict intake conditions (on an empty stomach and in a standing or sitting position in order to avoid undesirable effects potentially serious in the esophagus). Among them :

alendronate (Fosamax®) risedronate (Actonel®) zoledronic acid (Aclasta®)

► two tacrolimus (Advagraf®, Prograf®, immunosuppressants used once morest transplant rejection) which must absolutely be taken on an empty stomach every day at the same time,

► of fosfomycine (Monuril®, antibiotic used once morest urinary infections in women),

► antibiotics fluoroquinolones such as ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin especially incompatible with dairy products, macrolides, tetracyclines, oxacillin and derivatives, rifampicin, erythromycinthe anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid,

► levothyroxine (Levothyrox®, used in thyroid disorders),

► du gluconate de zinc (Rubozinc®)

► from sildenafil (Viagra®) whose action will be delayed if taken during a meal.

If you have the slightest doubt regarding when to take your treatment, it is advisable to always seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist, who will be able to provide you with the answers. Finally, in addition to the interactions with food, there are also interactions between several drugs. This is why a dosage plan may be necessary in certain cases in order to optimize efficiency and reduce the risk of adverse effects of your treatments. This allows you to know when to take different medications, with what interval, during or without meals.

1701187849
#empty #stomach #medications #effective