How long after eating should I take the medication?
Nov 28, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, the timing of taking medication after a meal depends on the type of drug. In most cases, it should be taken 30 to 60 minutes after a meal; for medications that are more irritating to the stomach, it is recommended to take them 15 to 30 minutes after eating; drugs that need to be taken on an empty stomach are advised to be taken 2 hours after a meal or 1 hour before a meal; hypoglycemic medications should be taken with food.
Generally speaking, the time interval between eating and taking medication should be determined according to the type of medication. In most cases, medication should be taken 30 to 60 minutes after eating. For medications with a strong irritating effect on the stomach, it is recommended to take them 15 to 30 minutes after eating. Medications that need to be taken on an empty stomach should be taken two hours after a meal or one hour before a meal. Antidiabetic medications should be taken with meals. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. Detailed explanation is as follows:
For most medications, the recommended time to take them after eating is 30 to 60 minutes. At this time, the food has been partially digested and the stomach empties more slowly, allowing the medication to remain in the stomach for a longer period, increasing its chance of being absorbed in the small intestine. For medications that are highly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, such as compound aspirin tablets, loxoprofen sodium tablets, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, etc., taking them 15 to 30 minutes after eating can reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract and aid in drug absorption.
Certain medications that need to be taken on an empty stomach, such as colloidal bismuth pectin capsules, lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, domperidone tablets, etc., are recommended to be taken two hours after meals or one hour before meals. Taking these medications on an empty stomach can maximize their effectiveness, and taking them with food may lead to impaired drug absorption. For antidiabetic medications, such as acarbose tablets, metformin and glibenclamide tablets (I), glimepiride capsules, etc., they usually need to be taken with meals to reduce their retention time in the stomach and quickly reach the intestines for absorption.
It is recommended to maintain a bland diet while taking medication, avoiding spicy, irritating, and greasy foods, which is beneficial for drug absorption.
