What is the difference between drugs taken after meals and before meals? : function, dosage, side effects, how to use

Have you ever been prescribed medication by a doctor and then advised you to take medicine after eating and some other types of medicine to be taken before eating? Yes, it turns out that not all medicines are taken after eating, some should be taken when your stomach is empty. What is the difference between drugs that must be taken before and after meals? What determines when the drug should be taken?

Why don't you take medicine always after eating?

Medicines have different ways of working in dealing with problems or disorders that are in the body. The way these drugs work depends on various factors, one of which is drug-food interactions. Food contains various nutrients that can affect the action of drugs in the body. The effects that arise can make the drug work more effectively or even inhibit its action. So, this depends on the type of medicine you are taking and how it works in the body.

Why is there a recommendation to take medicine after eating?

If you are advised to take a medicine after eating, this means that it is working better when your stomach is filled with food. In addition, there are several reasons why you should take your medicine after eating:

1. Prevent digestive problems due to drug side effects

Some types of drugs have side effects of irritating the stomach, inflammation, and even injury. Food that previously entered the stomach will prevent these side effects from occurring. An empty stomach will be susceptible to injury due to the consumption of drugs that are quite hard doses. Types of drugs that can cause this disorder are aspirin, NSAIDs (diclofenac, ibuprofen), steroid drugs (prednisolone and dexamethasone).

2. Medication serves to treat digestive problems

Antacid type drugs are drugs that are usually given to people who experience digestive disorders such as nausea, heartburn, and increased stomach acid. Therefore, the drug will work more effectively if it is taken after food enters the stomach.

3. Food makes the drug absorbed into the blood faster

Taking medicine before meals also aims to make the drug absorbed more quickly into the blood vessels. some types of drugs such as HIV drugs, require food assistance to increase absorption into the body so that the drug works more effectively.

4. Helping the body in processing food

Diabetics are usually given drugs that have the main function of helping digestion and metabolism of food in the body. The drug will regulate and control blood sugar after meals - which are quite high after meals. So, medicines for diabetics must be consumed after eating.

Then, why are there drugs that should be taken before eating?

Even though you often take medicine after eating, it is not uncommon for doctors to give patients drugs that must be taken before eating. Most of the medicines that must be taken before eating are not properly absorbed into the blood if there is food in the stomach. Types of drugs that must be taken before eating, namely:

• flucloxacillin.
• phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V).
• oxytetracycline.

Some of the types of drugs that have been mentioned above must be taken about an hour before you fill your stomach with food. Within that one hour, the drug will be absorbed by the body and work effectively. Almost all drugs to treat osteoporosis must also be consumed before eating, to be precise taken in the morning before breakfast. The following are the types of these drugs:

• Alendronic acid, drink before 30 minutes before you drink and eat for the first time in the morning.
• Sodium clodronate, drink with water in small amounts and you should not drink or eat for an hour later.
• Disodium etidronate, it is recommended to be taken within 2 hours before and after meals.