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With or after food

  • 30-08-2010 10:49PM
    #1
    Thoie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,340 ✭✭✭


    Just curious as to what the science behind taking some medications "with or after food", and taking others "before meals". I'm guessing (completely guessing) that it might have something to do with slower/faster absorption into the blood stream? I've also seen once or twice that something can make you queasy if taken on an empty stomach, but I don't quite get why.

    Is it that if there's food already in your stomach, the acid breaks down the tablet/capsule differently and is less sickening?


Comments

  • #2
    Piste
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,440 ✭✭✭✭Piste


    Some medicines irritate the lining of your stomach and so should be taken with food.


  • #3
    Tree
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,839 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tree


    Also, the presence of food in teh stomach can alter the pharmocokinetics of the drugs. By having a more basic or acidic envirionment, the active can alter its charge and uptakeability. Also, the food may interact with other excipients increasing or preventing the release of the active if it binds to it normally.

    It's allllll very complicated. So basically, follow the advice of the packaging. The changed environment of hte stomach can have a massive impact on the actual uptake of drug in many circumstances.


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