Drug Information Q&A Q26. Is it safe to take medicines without water or with something other than water?
Answer
No. Medicines are easier to take when taken with water, and are more easily absorbed and effective when dissolved in water. If you take it in any other way, it may lead to an unexpected accident.
Explanation
Most medicines are designed to be taken with a glass of water (about 200 cc) or white water (water that has been boiled and then cooled to lukewarm). Therefore, if taken without water or with a small amount of water, the drug may not dissolve sufficiently, resulting in reduced absorption and ineffectiveness.
In addition, if capsules are taken without water, they may stick to the throat or esophagus, where the dissolved drug ingredients may damage the mucous membrane. To prevent such accidents, it is important to always drink plenty of water.
What about drinking cola, juice, or milk?
Carbonated beverages such as cola are said to affect the absorption of medicines.
Cola, like coffee and tea, contains caffeine. Caffeine has stimulant effects, such as making you drowsy, and diuretic effects, such as stimulating the elimination of urine, which may make sedatives less effective. In addition, some gout medications may suppress the breakdown of caffeine, resulting in a strong stimulant effect, causing headaches and heart palpitations. Recently, an increasing number of beverages contain caffeine, so those who take medicines daily should pay attention to the ingredients of beverages.
In juices, grapefruit juice may suppress the breakdown of blood pressure-lowering drugs (such as calcium channel blockers), causing them to act more strongly. This is because the furanocoumarin in grapefruit juice reduces the activity of enzymes in the small intestine that metabolize the drug. This effect may last for two to three days. There are a variety of calcium channel blockers that are less susceptible to the effects of grapefruit, so consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
In addition, drinking a lot of citrus juice can make your urine alkaline, which may make some medications more or less effective. Avoid taking medicines with juice.
Alcohol is a particular problem when it comes to drug compatibility.
Alcohol is broken down in the liver. Many medicines are also broken down in the liver. Therefore, taking drugs and alcohol together can delay their breakdown and result in higher-than-normal blood concentrations, which can have a stronger effect. In addition, daily consumption of alcohol increases the amount of enzymes that break down alcohol, which in turn makes it easier to break down the drug, thereby decreasing its effectiveness.
Medications that have a calming effect, such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills, can have a similar effect on alcohol, so taking them together can increase their effects to an extreme degree. Also, diabetic medications can cause hypoglycemia.
Never take medicines with alcohol. Always take medicines with water or white water.
Chart/Column
26｜Differences in the way a medicine works when taken with water or grapefruit juice
Doctors will examine the patient's physical condition and medical condition and prescribe the most appropriate medication according to the patient's condition.
Source: Adapted from HIRASHIMA, H., et al.: Jpn J Clin Pharmacol Ther ,37 : 127-133, 2006.
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