Many familiar medications can cause strong side effects when taken with coffee. Pharmacists have now issued warnings that can help save lives.
Keep reading to know more.
A lot of people tend to start their day with a cup of hot coffee. It is also true that many people might also take some kind of medication.
When taking medication, it is important to know how to use it correctly to get the full benefit. It is also important to be aware that taking some medications incorrectly can lead to serious consequences.
The combined effect can lead to problems
Being wary of combining coffee and medication is not scaremongering, but rather, there are genuine medical concerns and things to consider.
Pharmacist Budd tells the Daily Mail that anyone taking regular medication should consider their coffee intake, as caffeine can significantly affect how the body metabolizes various medications.
“The main interactions occur in your liver, which can either speed how quickly some medications are broken down or intensify their side effects. If you regularly take prescription medication, it’s worth thinking about when and how much coffee you drink,” Budd said.
“Even small timing adjustments, like waiting an hour after your dose to have a coffee, can make a difference to how well your medication works and how you feel,” he added.
It’s easy to think that anxiety caused by a medication, for example, could be exacerbated by drinking coffee, but there are also many other, less obvious side effects that coffee can negatively affect. Below, we’ll go over six types of medication that Budd says should never be taken with coffee.
Flu medicines
Many cold medicines contain caffeine. The caffeine in the medicine helps overcome fatigue that the disease can cause.
Another common cold remedy is nasal decongestant sprays. These often contain pseudoephedrine – a substance that, according to pharmacists, should not be taken with coffee.
Mr Budd warned, “Combining these with coffee can overstimulate your nervous system, leading to jitteriness, palpitations or increased blood pressure.”
Painkillers
Budd also says that paracetamol and ibuprofen, which are also popular among Finns, are excellent pain relievers in themselves if used correctly. However, he points out that it is not a good idea to swallow the medication down your throat with a cup of coffee.
Painkillers affect the body in addition to relieving pain, also in the stomach. When you use a lot of painkillers, it wears out the stomach. Adding a cup of coffee to the pack, its acidity can irritate the stomach even more and increase heartburn.
In the worst case, an irritated stomach can lead to heartburn as well as peritonitis or stomach ulcers.
Blood pressure medications
The most commonly taken blood pressure medications are so-called ACE inhibitors, which dilate blood vessels and thereby lower blood pressure. However, coffee has a surprisingly large effect on this type of medication.
According to Budd, caffeine can reduce the rate of drug absorption into the body. This in turn can lead to blood pressure remaining elevated, which in turn places additional strain on the blood vessels, heart, and other organs.
According to Budd, if prolonged, this stress can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, or even dementia.
Thyroid medications
Like ACE inhibitors that treat blood pressure, levothyroxine, which treats hypothyroidism, is also very sensitive to coffee.
Some studies suggest that drinking coffee shortly after taking thyroxine can reduce its effectiveness by up to 50 percent. This is because caffeine stimulates the intestines, which can shorten the time it takes for the medication to be absorbed.
The decrease in potency also means that unpleasant side effects such as fatigue, digestive problems, and weight fluctuations may begin to occur more frequently.
It is therefore recommended to wait at least 30 minutes before drinking coffee after taking the medicine.
Antidepressants and mood stabilizers
Unlike the medications mentioned above, drinking coffee has a surprising effect on antidepressants – it can prolong the side effects of the medication.
“Some antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, (SSRIs) are processed by the same liver enzyme as caffeine,” Mr Budd said.
“This means that coffee can slow down how your body clears caffeine or the medicine, therefore increasing side effects like restlessness, insomnia, or rapid heartbeat.”
According to Duodecim, the syndrome is caused by too much serotonin in the body, which can cause confusion, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, and tremors. The condition can become dangerous, and it is important to seek treatment if you notice symptoms.
Drugs that treat osteoporosis
People taking osteoporosis medications should also be careful about drinking coffee and taking their medications.
Osteoporosis medications such as alendronate or risedronate, like other medications, can be less effective if taken with coffee. In fact, it is recommended that these types of medications be taken on an empty stomach with just water to maintain their effectiveness as much as possible.
Budd recommends that it’s best to wait at least 30 minutes after taking your osteoporosis medication before drinking your cup of coffee.
The pharmacist also recommends considering whether it would be possible for people taking osteoporosis medication to reduce their coffee consumption or switch to decaffeinated coffee. Caffeine can impair the body’s absorption of certain substances important for bones, such as vitamin D and calcium.
On the other hand, there is currently no research evidence that drinking coffee worsens osteoporosis, and it is best to stay in moderation.
Remember these
Whether it’s one of the medications mentioned above or something completely different, it’s always a good idea to read the package insert for each medication.
It is also recommended to talk to the doctor who recommended the medication or the pharmacist at your local pharmacy about the medication and its proper use.
“It’s always important to check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication, and if you’re ever unsure, speak to your pharmacist or GP. advised. They can help you understand whether it’s best to limit anything.”
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