We've all been advised to take our medication with food. Since childhood, it's a common thing to hear. Although most drugs don't actually require food, here's a couple of reasons why:
1. Disguise taste : many drugs have unpleasant tastes. By taking them with food, their foul tastes can be masked and avoided altogether.
2. Reduce side effects (nausea and vomiting): drugs that have known and pronounced nausea and vomiting side effect profiles can be improved by advising patients to take them with food in an attempt to attenuate these reactions. Penicillins can cause nausea and by taking them with food, tolerance in most patients is improved.
3. Metabolism: in some cases, food can delay, speed up or improve the absorption of certain drugs. In the case of some oral anti fungals for example, fatty food promotes absorption of acidic drugs.
4. Sensitivities: the gastrointestinal tract is lined with soft delicate epithelial cells and these can often become sensitive in some patients; having food with drugs ensure that no direct contact with these cells and potentially abrasive drugs occur. In this case food acts as a protective lining to reduce irritations.
It's important to note that, needing to take your medicine with food is not a call to gluttony. I'm most cases a piece of fruit or snack is enough. No need to fill up your plates and overindulge under pretext of medicine.
Another point to note is that certain foods like grapefruit shouldn't be taken with medicine as it may induce metabolism
And reduce drug efficacy.
For these reasons and more, it is a rule of thumb to take medicine with food; Unless specifically indicated to be taken on an empty stomach.
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