Is it better to take cold medicine before or after meals?

Generally, whether it is better to take cold medicine before or after meals mainly depends on the ingredients of the cold medicine and the patient's physical condition. If the cold medicine is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation and the patient has no other gastrointestinal diseases, it is usually better to take it before meals. However, if the medicine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or if the patient has gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric ulcers, it is generally better to take it after meals. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Some TCM cold medicines, such as Ganmao Qingre Granules or Banlangen Granules, may need to be taken before meals because TCM preparations may react with food in the stomach if taken after meals, affecting the efficacy of the medication. Therefore, if the patient is in good general health and does not have gastrointestinal diseases, TCM cold medicines are usually best taken before meals.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory cold medicines, such as Paracetamol tablets, may irritate the gastric mucosa. This irritation may be more pronounced if the medicine is taken on an empty stomach and may easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. In addition, if the patient has gastrointestinal ulcers, such as peptic ulcer disease or duodenal ulcer, food taken after meals can form a protective barrier on the surface of the gastric mucosa, reducing the direct irritation caused by the medication. In such cases, it is better to take cold medicine after meals.

If patients have any questions or uncertainties, they should consult a doctor or pharmacist to ensure the safe and effective use of cold medicine.