There is no debate whether you are aware that doctors often prescribe consuming certain medicines an empty stomach. But did you ever stop to think why that is the case, and how you can be absolutely sure that your stomach is empty? To explore the same, the team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to Dr Kamalesh A, Consultant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.
Why Should You Take Medicines On An Empty Stomach?
In a study, researchers from the University of Oxford revealed that taking certain oral medicines with food may make them less effective. Highlighting the significance of the question raised above, Dr Kamalesh said, “Many people who are taking tablets or other medicines, either on prescription or over-the-counter, are not sure about the best time to take them, especially in relation to meal times and whether to take them in the morning or at bedtime.” That is why it is important for you to understand, why exactly doctors recommend taking certain medicines on an empty stomach.
He continued, “Should tablets be taken before, during, or after meals? There is no simple answer to this question. However, as a general rule, you should take medicine on an empty stomach unless advised otherwise.”
He informed that the reason why doctors prescribe a certain way to consume your medicines is because many medicines can be affected by what you eat and when you eat it. For example, taking a pill at the same time you eat may interfere with the way your stomach and intestines absorb the medicine. If you have food in your stomach and at the same time you take a medicine, it may delay or decrease the absorption of the drug.
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Listing a set of ways by which your food intake interferes with your medications, Dr Kamalesh shared:
- Enhanced Absorption: Some medications are better absorbed when the stomach is empty. Food in the stomach can interfere with the absorption process, making the medication less effective. This will enable your medicines to start working quickly, which can be crucial for drugs that require rapid action.
- Minimised Side Effects: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are examples of foods that can interfere with how medicines work. They interfere with some of the enzymes responsible for breaking down medicines in the body, causing the medicine to build up in your body. These increased levels of medicines can lead to harmful side effects. For example, if an anti-hypertensive medicine builds up in your body, you can have a dangerous drop in your blood pressure.
- Preventing Interactions: Some foods can react with the ingredients of a medicine you are taking, and inhibit the medicine from working the way it should or causing unexpected side effects. Such drug-food interactions can happen with both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including antacids, vitamins and iron pills.
How to Make Sure That Your Stomach Is Actually Empty?
Dr Kamalesh advised that if you have been told by your doctor to take certain medicines on an empty stomach, do not take this advice lightly. He shared a set of rules you can follow to ensure your stomach is actually empty before taking your medicines:
- Follow Fasting Guidelines: Your doctor will specify how long you should fast before taking the medication. This may vary depending on the drug, but it's typically around one to two hours before or after a meal.
- Water Is Usually Allowed: In most cases, you can take medications with a small amount of water even when fasting, because it also protects you from the medicine getting lodged in your throat. However, avoid other beverages or juices, as they can interfere with absorption. To be on the safer side, ask your doctor if you should take water with your medicines.
- Be Consistent: Try to take your medication at the same time each day to maintain a consistent fasting schedule.
Dr Kamalesh concluded, “Even though some medicines, such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are easier to tolerate with food, it is still preferable to take them after a meal to reduce the risk of side effects such as acid reflux and gastric bleeding. Not all medicines will show severe side effects, but the possibility still exists.”
As a rule of thumb, you should always make it a point to ask your doctor the right way to consume the medicines being prescribed to you. After all, doctors are also humans who are burdened with huge amounts of patients every day. So a lapse in their advice is plausible and should be compensated with educated awareness on your behalf. Always communicate openly with your healthcare provider if you have any doubts or concerns about your medication regimen. Remember, proper medication management is an essential part of your overall healthcare plan, and should not be taken lightly.