Some pharmaceutical companies label their drugs "take with food," and it is the consumers' job to follow the instruction in order to prevent untoward effects. Also, people should understand that not all drugs work the same way. There are drugs that work best in a full stomach, and other take effect faster in an empty stomach. It all depends on the drug mechanism.
Here are 7 drugs that should not be taken on an empty stomach. However, it is always a good thing to consult with your prescribing doctor, or pharmacist before taking these medications.
1. Metformin- this is often used to manage Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes. This is the condition of your body where it doesn't use insulin produced by your pancreas properly. It is best to take this drug with meals to prevent your blood glucose level from going down.
2. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) - these drugs are the most commonly prescribed drugs for pain. According to MSN Health, Naproxen is usually prescribed to treat certain pains like, headache or menstrual pain, while aspirin is usually used to prevent heart attacks and ischemic strokes from happening. Aspirin is even thought to be a "miracle drug" because of this. However, NSAIDS should be taken in with food so as not to cause any bleeding or gastrointestinal issues.
3. Prednisone- this drug type may come in a pill or a liquid form. It is given to people with insufficient amount of corticosteroids in the body. Corticosteroids are hormones that control the adrenal glands that stop the inflammation process in the body.
It is important to take this with food or milk to lower the risk of stomach upsets or ulceration. Medicaldaily.com reported that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends users to mix liquid prednisone with juice, or any soft food.
4. Opioids- these are also often known as narcotic pain relievers. They are usually given for severe types of pain. Patients are recommended to take these while eating to avoid nausea and vomiting. Fiber rich foods are recommended so constipation may be prevented. Morphin, oxycodone, and codeine belong to this drug classification.
5. Antacids are drugs you can usually buy over the counter, which is normally used to reduce heart burn and balancing the acid levels in the body. This is most effective when taken an hour after meals or while you're eating. But experts suggest that if symptoms of indigestion happen at night, then taking antacids in an empty stomach is okay.
6. Antibiotics- there are a lot of antibiotic types that work in different ways. Some work best if taken without food, but there are antibiotics like amoxicillin, augmentin, and clofazimine that should be taken with meals.
7. Oral contraceptives- For the birth control pill to be effective, it should be taken at the same time every day. However, it is also important to remember to take it with meals to avoid nausea.
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