If basic medication...?

Question

says take with food & swallow water is this a must or a nice way of taking the medication or to stop law suits. If you take it on it's own does it really detriment the effect of the medicine?

Answer 1

im no doctor but i suggest u just follow the info on the packet ...... they must b there for a reason

Answer 2

Yes, it is important to take your medications they way they are supposed to be taken. Absorbtion rates and drug concentrations in the blood are both affected by the presense or absence of food or water. The drug companies and the FDA both conduct extensive studies to determine the best way to get any drug into the system to be the most effective. In addition to the recommedations to take it with food or water, you can also find warnings to avoid dairy products, alcohol, or to take in combination with milk or larger quantities of water. In each case, there is a valid reason why the medication should be taken in that manner. If there were no particular ways which affected the medication, then there is no label at all and you can decide which you prefer. If you are given a prescription for a drug which has a direction label to take it with or without food, you can ask the pharmacist for the reasons behind the recommendation. He or she can give you the explaination for that specific drug, so you can understand the logic for the recommendation. The labels are not so much a way to prevent a lawsuit as it is to educate you in the way to take your medication so it is the most effective. If you choose not to follow the recommendations, the drug will not always work or will not be as effective. Given what prescription medicattions cost, it only makes sense to take it the way it was designed to be taken, so you get the most benefit from it. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying for another prescription because you don't improve. A lot of the reason for a treatment failure is due to the patient taking the medication improperly, not because the medication itself failed.

Answer 3

They're basically just a suggestion. If it says 'take with food' it's probably because it can cause an upset stomach if taken on it's own. I never take my pills with food and that's usually all that happens to me. The water is a little heavier of a suggestion because the pill can become lodged in the throat and tear the esophagus... The effect isn't affected on either count, at least not that I know of.

Answer 4

Generally, taking medications with food (or milk) is recomended more as a way to protect your stomach. It shouldn't actually change the effect of the medication for it's intended purpose, but is more to protect you from possible side effects. Depending on the medication and your GI health, it's either a nice or a must.

Answer 5

The reason one has to take certain tablets with food is because that particular type of tablet can cause "heartburn" or possibly stomach ulcer due to a sort of corrosive effect on the stomach lining or dudenum. When the food in your mouth has been masticated and covered with saliva you pop the tablet in and then swallow it. I do not personally recommend that you also include water at this stage because it dilutes what you have covered the food with ie saliva. A common tablet you have to do with is "Ibuprofen".
Happy swallowing and hope your condition rapidly improves.

Answer 6

that depends on the medication, some medications you need to take with food or it will upset your stomach, some medications, can cause dehydration if you don't drink enough...some medicationsare processed through the kidneys, and you need the extra fluids to push the medications through.... ultimately, it is best to follow the directions on taking medications to get optimum performance from the medication.

the pharmacist should be able to tell you what the consiquences of not following the directions would be

Answer 7

No, the medicine still works but keeps you from getting sick since this side effect is likely to happen with the chemical makeup of the drug. You can take it and try it but it warned you.

Answer 8

Yes for some. It depends on the person and the medication. My Mother has to take her medication after she eats or she gets sick. I on the other hand have to take medication that I take for my back on an empty stomach or it will not work at all.

Answer 9

It really is a must - dry tablets can lodge is the mucosa of your throat or oesophagus and cause ulceration.

Answer 10

well i can imagine swallowing tablets without water could be difficult.they could lodge in your throat.