Does drinking caffeine like soda, or coffee with medicine really decrease the effectiveness of the medicine? I'd always heard that, but wasn't sure if it were true or not. I actually had a Professor who took her Advil's with Coca Cola on purpose, because she said it opened up the veins, and caused the medicine to get there quicker to relieve the pain. Which is true? Or does it not matter either way?
2006-09-22 13:32:47 · 7 answers · asked by LadyBug 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
Caffeine will decrease the effectiveness of sedatives. Your professor was mistaken though, the main limitation to getting the advil in the system is the time it takes to be absorbed, not the time it takes to circulate. However, caffeine does increase the pain relief of aspirin, and probably Advil. In fact, aspirn has been compounded with caffeine for decades.
2006-09-22 14:44:53 · answer #1 · answered by richarddelightful 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your professor is right in one aspect caffeine does open vessels that is why one of the main ingrediants in Excedrin is caffeine. But the other guy is right with that it has to be abosrbed into your bloodstream first before it can travel through the blood vessels. Caffeine does decrease the effects of sedatives b/c that is the whole point of sedatives to help you sleep or relax and if you take caffeine with it it will be as if you havn't even taken one. And it also depends on what kind of painkiller you are taking as well.
2006-09-22 18:13:53 · answer #2 · answered by fancy_28203 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For many pain killers (advil, Tylenol, etc.) consuming caffeine actually increases the effectiveness---especially for headaches. Some specific headache medicines (such as "Excedrin") are blends of tylenol or advil with 100-200 mg of caffeine.
2006-09-22 21:28:19 · answer #3 · answered by P-nuts and Hair-dos 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the medicine involved. It seems to actually increase the effectiveness of some painkillers. But because caffiene is a diuretic, if you're trying to take a suppliment it might well wash the suppliment out of you before it does any good.
I hope this helps!
2006-09-23 04:40:13 · answer #4 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure certain medicines would be affected by caffiene and some are affected by milk. It's always better to take them with water, but I don't think it decreased the effectiveness, it could have some other ill effects. You should always read the insert they give you.
2006-09-22 13:39:04 · answer #5 · answered by mystery_lvr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caffine actually increases the effect of Actemetphine, which is common in drugs like Tyleno. Believe it or not Coa-Cola is actually a very quick way to rehydrate, its makeup is similar to the fluids that your own body makes.
2006-09-25 02:38:38 · answer #6 · answered by joey l 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends what medicine. Ask your doctor if it does or not. But obviously it will affect sleep medicines!
2006-09-22 16:16:02 · answer #7 · answered by ALK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋