What happens if you take dairy products, iron preparations, or antacids with a medication when told not to?

Question

What is the effect of taking dairy products, iron preparations, or antacids, with an antibiotic when it tells you not to consume either within an hour of taking the medication? Does it have a bad effect on the body? For me, it is hard to have a meal without dairy products, and the antibiotic bottle says to take it after lunch and dinner on a full stomach. Is it okay if I do take a moderate amount of dairy product with my lunch and dinner?

(Advice is much appreciated!)

Answer 1

The short answer is that it probably blocks the absorption of the drug so that it can’t do its job. The truth of the matter is that this is a question best put to your health care provider of Pharmacist. Different drugs even in the same class can have different interactions. Frankly no matter the drug, prescription or OTC the directions and warnings are there for a reason and should be followed.

For the short course of the treatment leaving out dairy should not present much issue. There are ways to replace dairy if necessary. Use soy or corn products for milk and cheese substitutes, margarine or olive oil instead of butter and simply don’t eat ice cream, yogurt, sour cream etc.

Answer 2

Generally, the things you eat will adversely effect the efficacy of the medication. In other words, it won't work right. Give up the dairy, iron and antacids until you've finished with the meds. I'm lactose intolerant and let me tell you it is not that difficult to have a meal without dairy when you need to.

Answer 3

Follow the instructions. Sometimes it's as simple as the antibiotic not working as well if you take it with the items it says not to, but in rare cases it can be very dangerous or fatal if you fail to follow the directions. Don't take the risk. (There are ways to substitute dairy products if you're making recipes that call for them- there are plenty of people who would be more than happy to help you with this in the "Cooking & Recipes" or "Vegetarian & Vegan" categories if you want tips and ideas.)

Answer 4

the molecules of the dairy products, iron, antacids, which contain calcium, attach to the molecules of the antibiotics which makes them less easily absorbed, a good idea with an antibiotic is to take it with a piece of bread and then eat your meal later

Answer 5

I had cheese at dinner and waited 2 hour after dinner to take my antibiotic will it still not working as well

Answer 6

Maybe it decreases absorption of the antibiotic into your body?

Answer 7

orange juice,you might want to google it.

Answer 8

its not absorbed so well