Pharmacist Irina Vasilyeva has warned that consuming coffee, tea, and dairy products alongside certain medications may hinder the absorption of their active ingredients and reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
اضافة اعلان
The pharmacist explained that the caffeine in coffee and tea interacts with a number of active substances in medications, and depending on the type of drug, this interaction can either slow down or speed up its absorption.
This effect is especially important when taking blood pressure medications, since incomplete or delayed absorption of the active ingredient may lead to lower concentrations in the blood, preventing blood pressure from being controlled and kept at the required levels. Coffee also stimulates the secretion of stomach acid and activates intestinal movement, which in turn may affect the absorption of some medications.
As for the tannins in tea, they interact with certain medication ingredients, forming insoluble compounds that prevent the active substance from crossing the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. For this reason, taking some medications, including blood pressure medications, with tea is not recommended, because the body may not absorb the full dose.
Milk and dairy products contain calcium, which can bind with certain pharmaceutical substances, forming complex insoluble compounds that the intestinal wall cannot absorb, so they are excreted from the body.
Vasilyeva said: "This interaction most often occurs with certain antibiotics, osteoporosis medications, thyroid hormones, and iron-containing preparations. It can also have a noticeable effect on blood pressure medications."
She added that taking a tablet with milk or a dairy product, or right after consuming them, may prevent the body from absorbing part of the active ingredient. As a result, blood pressure may remain above the target level, and the treatment may appear less effective than expected.
The pharmacist noted that there is no uniform time period that must be observed between taking a medication and consuming these products. The required interval, depending on the type of medication, ranges from 30 minutes to several hours. She stressed the importance of reading the medication leaflet carefully, since it clarifies whether the drug can be taken with food, and which foods and beverages should be avoided. Where instructions don't specify otherwise, it's preferable to take medications with plain water, since it doesn't interact with most active ingredients and typically doesn't affect their absorption.
She said: "When drinking coffee or tea after taking medication, you should wait the appropriate amount of time. It's best to avoid taking the medication with these beverages, or drinking coffee immediately after it."
She added that people taking blood pressure medications in the morning should pay attention to the ingredients of their breakfast. If it contains milk or cottage cheese, they should observe the time gap between taking the medication and eating, according to the instructions for the preparation.
Source: Al-Ghad.
