When to take medications. How many minutes before eating do you take the pills?

Whether we like it or not, our body depends on biological rhythms. He knows that he needs to get up in the morning and get ready for bed in the evening. For the same reason, there are seasonal exacerbations of diseases. But what’s interesting is, is there a dependence on biorhythms for each specific organ or system? It turns out there are quite a few.

If we know at what time the activity of a particular organ increases, we will be able to influence the effectiveness of taking medications. That is, we will know when it is better to take medications so that they are absorbed by the body faster. In addition, we will learn how to reduce side effects from drug therapy.

There is a whole direction in pharmacology (the science of drugs) devoted to these issues - chronopharmacology. It arose several decades ago. The founder is Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor R.M. Zaslavskaya. Although Avicenna also spoke about annual (seasonal) biorhythms and diseases associated with this. Chronopharmacology studies human biological rhythms that influence the severity of the action of drugs, as well as the effect of drugs on the rhythmic fluctuations of the body.

What are the biorhythms that affect the body:

Daily (circadian);
Biorhythms of the month;
Annual (seasonal);
Hormonal (menstrual cycle);

It is on these rhythms that the body is most dependent. But in fact, there are about 500 of these rhythms. They influence different levels of the body - cellular, tissue, as well as organs and the body as a whole.

The periods of some biological rhythms are close to the time intervals we are familiar with, but do not coincide with them. For this reason, in the names of such we often find the prefix “ circa"(means around, around, approximately). For example, the circadian rhythm is called circadian (“circa” - about, “dies” - day). By the way, it is the most important thing for the body, determining the activity and rest of all organs and systems, as well as cyclic metabolic processes.

Here we can guess why doctors insist on following a regimen - we get up and go to bed at the same time, eat food at certain hours. Violation of the usual routine can lead to serious changes in the human body and even to illness.

We could continue to develop the topic, talking about what kind of biorhythms there are, about their high-, medium- and low-frequency effects on the body, but in this article we are pursuing completely different goals.

Firstly, We are mainly interested in changes in activity in different areas of the human body depending on the time of day.
Secondly, at what hours it is most rational to take this or that pharmacological drug.

Biorhythms of the body

The approximate dependence of organ activity on the time of day is presented in the following diagram.

But this dependence can change quite widely under the influence of lifestyle, which sometimes leads to desynchronosis - disturbances in the normal functions of the body as a result of a shift in circadian biorhythms. Thus, each person has his own “biological clock,” but if it diverges greatly from the natural rhythms of the body, it can cause serious harm.

Dependence of taking certain drugs on biological rhythms

When is it better to take medications, for example, for hypertension and allergies? How to take vitamins and medications for bronchial asthma correctly? Chronotherapists answer these questions.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken for various diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, radiculitis pain, headaches, etc. From the point of view of chronotherapists, NSAIDs are most effective when taken in the evening after dinner. On the one hand, this reduces the severity of the side effects of these drugs, such as stomach pain and intestinal irritation. On the other hand, if we consider rheumatoid arthritis, in which the pain intensifies in the morning, then the effectiveness of the drugs increases. Chronopharmacologists are confident that taking NSAIDs several hours (1.5-2 hours) before the maximum pain sensation increases the effect by 2 times.
A similar picture with treatment. Chronotherapy is most widely used here. The body of each hypertensive patient is individual, therefore, to use chronotherapy, daily monitoring of blood pressure (BP) is required, which determines the time at which the peaks of blood pressure increase occur. The use of drugs for the treatment of hypertension is most advisable 1.5-2 hours before the onset of maximum blood pressure detected during monitoring. This allows you to achieve a reduction in blood pressure in a shorter time.
Sick use bronchodilators, incl. prolonged (extended) action. At night, the patency of the bronchi decreases, which is why asthma attacks most often occur in the predawn hours (around 4 a.m.). In this case, it is rational to take bronchodilators in the evening at 20-22 hours, and long-acting drugs even earlier, because the peak of their activity occurs 12 hours after administration.
Allergy medications (antihistamines) Chronotherapists advise taking it in the evening or in the afternoon, due to the maximum activity of histamine in the evening and night hours (histamine content is maximum at 21-24 hours). Those. We again adhere to the principle of taking the drug several hours before the onset of the maximum manifestation of a chronic disease.
Taking vitamins also depends on biological rhythms associated with biochemical processes in the body. It is known, for example, that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) often causes allergic reactions. It turns out that this is due to the fact that in the evening hours it promotes the release of histamine. However, when taken in the morning, it activates an enzyme that destroys histamine. Thus, it is better to take this drug early in the morning. Similar studies were carried out with other vitamins (B1, C, A, E, etc.). Probably, on the basis of these data, some doctors form the opinion that it is inappropriate to take vitamin-mineral complexes, since their individual components must be taken at different times of the day.

Conclusion

One of the positive aspects of the use of chronopharmacology is the reduction of therapeutic, daily and course doses of drugs, because Taking them during certain phases of the body’s activity increases their effectiveness by 2 times. If the dose of the drug is reduced, then the side effects are reduced accordingly.

But! The use of chronotherapy should be under the strict guidance of an experienced chronopharmacologist. He will analyze the individual characteristics of the body and give recommendations on what time is best to take medications.

In addition, the principles of chronotherapy do not apply to all diseases and medications. Such diseases, for example, include infectious diseases. Antibiotics must be supplied in a strictly defined concentration and regularly to avoid the formation of strains of microorganisms insensitive to them in your body.

Every adult should know how to take pills correctly. This will be useful to any of us in life.

You need to do this competently, understanding what you are doing. We take most tablets orally and their effectiveness, and the therapeutic effect on the body largely depends on how we take it, with what, when and why.

How to take pills correctly, where does the pill go:

When you take a tablet, it begins to be absorbed in the oral cavity, then begins to dissolve in the juices of the digestive organs and then enters the blood.
The main place where absorption of the active substances of the drug occurs is the intestine.
In the intestine, due to its villi, the absorption surface is more than 100 m2. Absorption is greatly influenced by the rate of gastric emptying, and depends on the composition of the food eaten.

How to take pills correctly, nutrition rules:

Carbohydrates:

Slow gastric emptying, resulting in impaired absorption:

Sulfonamides.
Antibiotics of the cephalosporin and macrolide group: (erythromycin, oleandomycin, Klacid, Rulet, etc.).

Fats:

Especially refractory fats reduce the secretion of gastric juice and slow down peristalsis. Eating too much fat reduces the effectiveness of:
Nitrofurans (furazolidone, furagin).
Sulfonamides.
Antihelminthic drugs.

At the same time, fat is beneficial:

Pushcha enriched with fats should be taken to improve the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E).
Metranidazole (Trichopol).
Tranquilizers (nitrazepam, seduxen).

When to take the pills when taken correctly:

The regimen of drug administration in relation to food intake significantly changes the absorption of drugs.

On an empty stomach and before meals:

Before meals and on an empty stomach, the reaction in the stomach is slightly acidic. At this time, you need to take tablets that quickly break down in an acidic environment. They are absorbed faster and their adsorption occurs faster.
There are drugs that, when taken on an empty stomach or before meals, have a damaging effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive organs.
These are the following drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nise, diclofenac, analgin, indomethacin).
Glucocorticoids (prednisolone, etc.).

During and after meals:

IN At this time, the acidity of the stomach reaches its maximum value, at the same time, the environment in the small intestine has an alkaline reaction. The strongly acidic environment of the stomach and the alkaline environment of the intestines affect the ionization and stability of drugs.

In the acidic environment of the stomach:

Antibiotics (erythromycin, penicillin, oleandomycin, lincomycin, clindamycin) lose their activity.

After meal:

You should take antacid medications that reduce pain before the onset of pain (30-60 minutes after eating) and again (about 3 hours after eating) to neutralize the acid remaining in the stomach after food leaves it.

During meals:

Take medications containing components of pancreatic and gastric juices.
Multienzyme preparations with an acid-resistant coating (enzistal, festal, panzinorm-forte).
Hepatoprotectors.

A change in stomach acidity can occur when taking medications with various juices, dairy products, and tonic drinks.

Milk:

Has a weak antacid effect. It is recommended for patients with increased secretion of gastric juice as the main component of dietary nutrition. You can drink milk with those medicinal substances that irritate the mucous membrane, but will not change their activity.
The calcium contained in milk forms unnecessary compounds: caffeine, tetracycline, iron supplements, thereby interfering with their absorption. Do not take medications that have an acid-resistant coating with milk.

Acidic liquids:

For example, juices: neutralize the effect of some antibiotics, slow down absorption (amidopyrine, piroxicam, furosemide). Strengthen the effect of salicylates, barbiturates, nitrofurans.

Tonic drinks, fruit and tea:

Such drinks contain tannins, which form poorly soluble and non-absorbable compounds with many drugs.

Boiled water:

Most tablets should be taken with 100 ml of boiled water.

When purchasing a new medicine, read carefully, check with the pharmacy or doctor about the specifics of its use and study the insert in the box that comes with the medicine.

Cardiovascular diseases:

Regulatory functions of the digestive organs:

Regulatory functions of the respiratory organs:

In this article, we looked in detail at the question of how to take pills correctly. This rule must be strictly followed to effectively treat your body.

And I, as always, look forward to seeing you on my website.

Watch the video on how to take the pills correctly:

Review

You can speed up the action of the pill or enhance its effect, minimize the risk of adverse reactions, or, on the contrary, get poisoned by taking the usual dose of the drug... The regimen and method of use radically affects the work of many medications: from ordinary vitamins to potent drugs.

After the tablet enters the body, it must dissolve in the digestive tract and penetrate through the walls of blood vessels into the blood. Then the active substance is distributed throughout the body and exerts its effect, after which it enters the liver, where it is destroyed and excreted with unnecessary metabolic products through the kidneys or intestines. This is the most common route taken by oral medications in the body.

What we eat and drink during treatment can slow down or speed up the absorption of the drug, interfere with its inactivation in the liver, or even remove the drug from the body in transit, without any effect. Therefore, it is important to know how to take pills correctly.

What should I take with my medications?

The universal liquid for washing down tablets is clean, non-carbonated, warm or room temperature water. Cold water slows absorption in the stomach and can, during illness, provoke nausea and vomiting. The amount of water should be at least half a glass (100 ml).

Only some medications can be taken with milk and are even beneficial. These are drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that we most often use for pain and fever: aspirin, ibuprofen, ketanov, analgin, indomethacin, voltaren and others, as well as steroid hormones: prednisolone, dexamethasone. Milk has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa and reduces the likelihood of the damaging effects of these drugs on it. The exception is drugs from these groups in the form of tablets or capsules coated with an enteric coating (such information can be found on the packaging) - their contents are released only in the intestines.

It is usually not recommended to use mineral waters to wash down tablets, as they contain ions of calcium, iron and other elements that can react chemically with the components of the medicine and interfere with their absorption.

The most complex interactions are observed when tablets are taken together with vegetable and fruit juices: they can both weaken and enhance the effect of the drugs. On the “black list”: apple, cherry, pear, grape, lemon, orange, pineapple, beetroot, tomato, viburnum and many other juices. The most dangerous is grapefruit. About 70% of existing medications are incompatible with it, including blood pressure medications, heart medications and oral contraceptives. Drugs to lower blood cholesterol (atorvastatin, simvastatin, etc.) together with grapefruit juice cause massive destruction of muscle tissue and kidney failure. Moreover, for the development of an unfavorable effect, 1 glass of juice is enough, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Therefore, it is recommended to stop drinking grapefruit juice three days before starting treatment with any medications (including injections).

It is not harmless to take some medications with tea and coffee. Tannins, catechins and caffeine contained in these drinks can play a cruel joke, for example, reducing the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. On the other hand, oral contraceptives increase the side effects of caffeine, which can lead to insomnia. Tea and coffee reduce the absorption of many other medications: antispasmodics, cough suppressants, glaucoma, etc. But paracetamol washed down with tea will relieve headaches faster, since caffeine increases the penetration of the drug into the brain.

The most explosive mixture can result from the combined use of drugs and alcohol of any strength. Ethyl alcohol and its metabolic products enhance the effects (including side effects) of psychotropic, antiallergic drugs, drugs for pain and fever, reduce the effect of antibiotics, diabetes drugs, drugs that affect blood clotting and anti-tuberculosis tablets. And the most dangerous thing is that in some cases, alcohol together with completely harmless drugs causes poisoning, even death as a result of liver failure. This most often happens when taking antibacterial, antifungal medications and paracetamol with alcohol.

When to take the tablets: on an empty stomach or after meals?

Given the fact that the active components of drugs can enter into unwanted connections with food, and the consequences of these connections are poorly understood, most drugs are recommended to be taken on an empty stomach.

If the instructions say “on an empty stomach,” this means that the medicine should be taken an hour before meals or 2-3 hours after. This regimen of administration, firstly, minimizes contact of the tablet with food. Secondly, it is believed that in the intervals between meals, the secretion of hydrochloric acid from gastric juice is minimal, which also affects the work of many medications. Thirdly, the medicine taken on an empty stomach works faster.

An exception are those medications that have an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc.). For the same reason, it is recommended to take iron supplements after meals to treat anemia, although they are better absorbed on an empty stomach.

The connection with food intake is especially important for drugs for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, because each of them affects individual stages of digestion, and therefore must enter the body at a certain time. So, medications that reduce acidity and relieve heartburn are taken 40 minutes before meals or an hour after. Enzymes (mezim, pancreatin, festal) are drunk during meals, as they must be mixed with food. Pre- and probiotic preparations are usually taken during or after meals.

Antacids (Almagel, Maalox, de-Nol and others), as well as sorbents (Smecta, activated carbon, polyphepan) interfere with the absorption of most drugs, so the interval between their use and the use of other drugs should be at least 1-2 hours.

Time of day and interval for taking medications

The daily amount of medication is usually divided into several doses to ensure a more or less constant concentration of the active substance in the body, as well as to reduce the single dose and the likelihood of side effects. Therefore, the instructions for the drugs and the note from the doctor usually say: 2-3 times a day. However, for some medications, the dose should be divided not throughout the daylight hours, but throughout the day. That is, a three-time dose means taking the medicine every 8 hours, a 4-time dose means taking the medicine every 6 hours, and so on.

Such a strict regime must be maintained, for example, when treating with antibiotics, which is often overlooked. If you take antibiotics irregularly, for example, taking a long break to sleep at night, the concentration of the active substance in the blood will fluctuate greatly. This is unlikely to cause overdose symptoms during the day, but at night it is highly likely to lead to the development of treatment resistance. That is, while you sleep, microbes adapt their metabolism to the antibiotic residues in the blood. Further treatment with this drug will be ineffective.

For convenience, many medications come in the form of long-acting tablets or capsules that can be taken only once a day. In the morning, they take diuretics, hormonal drugs, medications containing caffeine and adaptogens (ginseng, Eleutherococcus, Rhodiola rosea, etc.).

Forgotten pill rule

If you forgot to take a pill, estimate how much time has passed since “X”. Depending on the period of delay, three options are possible. First: if it is very close to the next dose, skip the forgotten pill completely, but keep in mind that the effect of the treatment may be reduced. The second option is that you take the medicine as soon as you remember it, but take the next dose according to the old schedule. This can be done if you take the medicine 1-2 times a day and at least half the time period remains before the next dose. You cannot double the dose of medication at one time. The third option to fix everything: you take a single dose of the medicine and start a new countdown, that is, shift the dosage schedule by the number of hours missed. This is the most rational method for short-term treatment, for example, if you have been prescribed antibiotics for 5-7 days.

Can I split tablets and open capsules?

If the tablet does not have a groove (scores, notches) to separate it into parts, most likely it is not intended for consumption in pieces. As a rule, these are all drugs that are coated with a protective coating. If they are broken, dissolved, chewed or crushed, they reduce their effectiveness. However, this can be neglected when emergency assistance is required.

When taken orally, the tablet begins to act after an average of 40 minutes. If you need a quick effect, you can put the medicine under your tongue or chew it thoroughly and keep it in your mouth with warm water. Then the absorption of the medicine will begin directly in the oral cavity and the effect will occur within 5-10 minutes.

Gelatin capsules consisting of two halves are also not recommended to be opened. The shell protects the contents from contact with air, accidental entry into the respiratory tract (which can cause irritation) or is destroyed only in the intestines, ensuring the drug is delivered precisely to the target without loss.

However, exceptions are sometimes made to this rule. Tablets and capsules are divided into parts if a person cannot swallow a large capsule or titration of the medicine is required (individual dose selection). These cases should be discussed with your doctor.

Is it possible to avoid side effects of medications?

Compliance with the doses, regimen and rules for taking medications allows you to minimize the risk of side effects, but you cannot completely protect yourself from troubles during treatment. You need to be alert. Most complications become noticeable in the first days of therapy. These are various types of allergic reactions, nausea, abdominal pain, stool disturbances, headaches, swelling and other manifestations that usually disappear when the drug is replaced with a similar one or after treatment is stopped.

The delayed and most severe complication of treatment is liver failure; renal function is less commonly affected. These organs are involved in the neutralization and removal from the body of almost all medications, including those that many of us take lightly: oral contraceptives, drugs for blood pressure and arrhythmia, lowering blood cholesterol, drugs for joint pain. By the way, it is these drugs that most often cause drug-induced hepatitis when taken for a long time.

The insidiousness of drug-induced liver and kidney damage is that the initial stages of the disease, when everything can still be easily corrected, are asymptomatic. Therefore, everyone who takes medications for a long time needs to do a biochemical blood test and a general urine test every six months. These basic tests allow you to monitor liver and kidney function. In case of significant deviations from the norm, it is necessary to interrupt treatment and consult a doctor.

All site materials have been checked by doctors. However, even the most reliable article does not allow us to take into account all the features of the disease in a particular person. Therefore, the information posted on our website cannot replace a visit to the doctor, but only complements it. The articles have been prepared for informational purposes and are advisory in nature. If symptoms appear, please consult a doctor.

The basic rule is to use antibiotics only in cases where it is impossible to do without them. Indications for the use of antibiotics are the appearance of signs of an acute bacterial infection that the body cannot cope with on its own:

Persistent and prolonged increase in temperature
Purulent discharge
Changes in blood composition - increase in leukocytes (leukocytosis), shift in the leukocyte formula to the left (increase in band and segmented leukocytes),
After a period of improvement, the patient’s condition worsens again.

It is known that antibiotics are powerless against viruses. Therefore, for influenza, ARVI, and some acute intestinal infections, their use is pointless and unsafe (see whether to drink). What else does everyone need to know to take antibiotics correctly?

Rule 2: Write down all information about your previous use of antibiotics

When, what antibiotics, what course, for what diseases - write down. This is especially true for children taking medications. When using antibiotics, it is important to pay attention to any side effects or allergies and write them down. The doctor will not be able to adequately select an antibiotic for you if he does not have information about what antibiotics you or your child took before and in what doses. It is also worth telling your doctor about other medications you are taking (either regularly or immediately).

Rule 3: Never ask your doctor to prescribe antibiotics

The doctor may prescribe you antimicrobial agents without special indications if you insist. The use of antibiotics significantly speeds up recovery, but this is not always justified. Moreover, do not ask for “something” stronger at the pharmacy. Stronger does not mean more effective. Sometimes the pharmacy may offer to replace one drug with a similar one; in this case, it is better to agree on such a replacement with your doctor or check with the pharmacist about the composition and active ingredient, so as not to violate the dosage prescribed by the doctor.

Rule 4: Get tested for bacterial culture to choose the “best” antibiotic

For some diseases, it is ideal when it is possible to undergo bacterial culture tests to determine sensitivity to antibiotics. When laboratory data is available, the selection of an antibiotic is simplified and in this case the treatment is obtained with sniper precision. The disadvantage of this test is that the wait for the result takes from 2 to 7 days.

5 Rule: Strictly observe the time and frequency of administration

Always leave equal intervals between antibiotic doses. This is necessary to maintain a constant concentration of the drug in the blood. Many people mistakenly perceive information about the frequency of intake; if it is recommended to take 3 times a day, this does not mean that the intake should be for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This means that the reception is carried out after 8 hours. If 2 times a day, then exactly after 12 hours.

Rule 6: How many days to take antibiotics?

Usually 5-7 days are enough, sometimes the period of taking an antibiotic is 10-14 days. Powerful long-acting antibiotics, such as Azithromycin (Sumamed, Azitrox, Zi-factor, Azicide, Hemomycin, Ecomed) are taken once a day for 3 days or 5 days; in severe cases, the doctor may prescribe the following regimen: drink for 3 days, break for 3 days - and so on 3 times. The duration of antibiotic use is determined by the doctor.

7 Rule: Continuity of treatment

If you start a course of antibiotics, under no circumstances should you stop treatment as soon as you feel better. It is worth continuing treatment 2-3 days after improvement and recovery. You should also monitor the effect of the antibiotic. If no improvement is observed within 72 hours, then the pathogen is resistant to this antibiotic and it should be replaced.

Rule 8: Never try to adjust the dosage of an antibiotic

The use of drugs in small doses is very dangerous, as the likelihood of the emergence of resistant bacteria increases. Increasing the dose is also not safe, as it leads to overdose and side effects.

Rule 9: What to drink and when to take an antibiotic?

Strictly follow the instructions for the correct use of a particular drug, since different antibiotics have different dependence on food intake:

alone - should be taken with meals
others - drink an hour before meals or 1-2 hours after meals
It is recommended to take any medications only with clean, non-carbonated water.
It is not recommended to drink antibiotics with milk and fermented milk products, as well as tea, coffee and juices (but there are exceptions, read the instructions carefully).

Rule 10: Take probiotics

During treatment, it is worth taking medications that restore the natural intestinal microflora (Linex, Narine, Gastrofarm, Primadophilus, Rela Life, Normoflorin, etc., all). Since antibacterial agents destroy beneficial bacteria in the body, you need to take probiotics and consume fermented milk products (separate from taking antibiotics). It is better to take these drugs in between taking antimicrobial agents.

11 Rule: When treating with antibiotics, follow a special diet

It is worth giving up fatty foods, fried, smoked and canned foods, and eliminating alcohol and sour fruits. Taking antibiotics inhibits liver function, therefore, food should not put too much strain on the liver. Include more vegetables, sweet fruits, and white bread in your diet.

“Never, under any circumstances, take sleeping pills at the same time as a laxative...”
Colin Hoover

To achieve the necessary therapeutic effect from the treatment, first of all you need to correctly follow the instructions of your attending physician!

1) Before taking the necessary medicine, carefully read the doctor’s prescription or the attached instructions for use of the drug. Pay special attention to:
● dose recommended for a single dose;
● on the number of medication doses per day;
● during the reception;
● on the method of administration;
● the duration of the course of treatment.

All this is very important both to obtain the necessary therapeutic effect and to reduce the likelihood of side effects of the drug.

Remember that when prescribing a medicine 2 times a day, the word “day” does not mean the light part of the day, but all 24 hours, since our body works around the clock! Therefore, taking pills should be divided into equal periods of time if possible. This is especially true for antimicrobial agents, because microbes work without a break for lunch and sleep. That is, with a two-time dose, the interval between taking each dosage should be 12 hours, three times - 8 hours, four times - 6 hours.

2) Information about when to take the medicine is also important: on an empty stomach, during meals or some time after it.

Some medications are designed to be absorbed in the stomach and intestines, while others are only absorbed in the intestines. For some drugs, the time of administration and its relationship with food intake may not matter. This is due to the processes occurring in the gastrointestinal tract. Food, as well as gastric juice, digestive enzymes and bile that are released during its digestion, can interact with medications and change their properties. That is why it is not at all indifferent when the medicine is taken: before meals, during meals or after it.

Taking the tablets “before meals” means on an empty stomach, that is, no earlier than 2-3 hours after the last meal and no later than 20 minutes before meals.

Taking medication “with meals” often does not raise any questions. But it's worth keeping in mind that the word "meal" doesn't have to mean a three-course meal. If taking the pills coincides with breakfast, lunch or dinner, that’s good, but if not, tea with crackers or a glass of milk will be enough.

How to take pills “after meals”? This needs to be sorted out. Immediately after eating, medications that irritate the stomach are usually taken, and 2 hours after eating, medications that reduce stomach acidity are usually taken.

Of course, there are drugs that act regardless of food intake, and this is usually indicated in the instructions.

3) Another important point is what you should take with your medications. Remember, dear readers, there is a category of food products that can seriously affect the effectiveness of the medications used. Here are some examples:

● grapefruit juice does not mix well with medications. Back in 2000, scientists proved that it should not be used simultaneously with heart medications. The fact is that grapefruit juice contains a substance that can interact with certain medications, increasing the rate of their absorption in the patient’s gastrointestinal tract;

● tea contains tannin, which forms compounds with drugs that are not absorbed by the body. If a person suffering from anemia takes iron supplements and washes them down with tea, the “tannin + iron” complex precipitates, therefore, the medicine is not absorbed and the effectiveness of the drug is reduced to zero;

● tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, doxycycline, etc.) should not be taken with milk, since the calcium present in it, interacting with the drug, reduces its effect. For the same reason, when treating with tetracyclines, you should avoid smoked products.

But there are exceptions: it is recommended to take sulfonamide drugs with an alkaline solution (for example, slightly alkaline mineral water) to prevent kidney stones.

It is better to make it a rule to take the medicine with 100 ml of boiled water at room temperature!

Remember!

Anything that is “clad” in a shell or capsule should not be chewed or bitten. It is recommended to chew chewable tablets thoroughly; suckable tablets should be dissolved. The release form of the drug is selected not for beauty or even for the convenience of the patient, but based on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug, that is, for the best therapeutic effect.

Many medications interact with each other, so try to alternate medications if possible. Antibiotics are often incompatible. They should not be unnecessarily combined with antipyretics, hypnotics, and antihistamines. And, of course, in no case with alcohol.

Never supplement your doctor’s prescriptions with what you consider to be “useful” medications, “strengthening the immune system,” “protecting the liver,” “accelerating recovery from colds,” or herbal remedies. Always express your wishes to your doctor and coordinate all innovations with him.

Dear people of Kazakhstan, value your life, your health and the health of your loved ones! Be responsible, do not use medications without a doctor's prescription! Remember: only a doctor can determine the need to take a particular drug.

If you have any questions about the use of medications, call the toll-free Call Service: 8 800 080 88 87

Drug Information and Analytical Center Republican state enterprise with the right of economic management “Republican Center for Health Development” of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.