How come some meds are to be taken with food and some meds need to be taken on an empty stomach, what exactly is the difference and why does it matter? A friend of mine is taking a prescription drug ( I forget the name but it is a steriod) and her Doctor told her to take it with food or right before eating. He said if she can't take it with food not to bother to take it because it won't do her any good. Won't the meds start to digest as soon it enters the stomach whether with food or not, so why does it matter? I'm sure there is a valid reason, just curious what it is.
2007-04-13 07:14:29 · 7 answers · asked by Julie A 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Some foods interfere with the body's ability to absorb medications into the blood stream. On the other hand, some prescription medications should be taken with food to prevent stomach irritation.
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2007-04-13 07:18:57 · answer #1 · answered by Alli 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some medications need to be taken on an empty stomach to be fully absorbed, they don't mix well with food. Some need to be taken with food, because they will irritate and damage the stomach if taken when the stomach is empty. Steroids are notorious for causing gastrointestinal upset, even ulcers. I suspect the doctor didn't want her to suffer the possible nausea and upset if she tried to take the steroid on an empty stomach, that certainly wouldn't do her any good at all.
2007-04-13 07:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without knowing which drug, it's hard to guess. Some have delayed or limited absorption when taken with food, some interact with fats or minerals. Some cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, and it's simply a matter of avoiding heartburn and vomiting. Other drugs are labelled to take with food, either to improve absorption or to avoid upset stomach, and others really aren't affected much one way or the other. The devil's in the details, and it's a lot simpler just to do as directed.
2016-05-19 17:15:29 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Food can interfere with your bodies ability to absorb some medication. This renders it less effective.
Some medications can harm your stomach, and should be taken with food to avoid this complication. Also, some medications make you nauseous and eating something before taking it may help avoid the nausea.
There are also some medications that can't be taken with certain foods. Valium, for example shouldn't be taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. It increases the effect of the medication, which in some cases could be extremely harmful.
2007-04-13 07:22:28 · answer #4 · answered by Firespider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some meds are better digested on an empty stomach. Some meds make you sick to your stomach if you don't eat something first.
2007-04-13 07:17:35 · answer #5 · answered by kathy s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Taking some prescriptions on an empty stomach can make you vomit. Antibiotics in particular can make your blood sugar drop, and make you feel wretched. If you already have a meal in there, it helps to keep your sugar level where it should be.
Don't take my word for it, try it yourself!
2007-04-13 07:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by Shepherd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some meds can irritate the stomach and are best taken with food. If you have ulcers it can also effect them as well..
2007-04-13 07:26:30 · answer #7 · answered by Donna 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋