Can I drink milk after taking medicine? : function, dosage, side effects, how to use

Each person's habits when taking medicine are different. Some have to take medicine by eating bananas, drinking tea, or just plain water. However, what happens if you take medicine with milk? Can I drink milk after taking medicine? Find out the answer here?

Is it dangerous to drink milk after taking medicine?

Actually drinking milk after taking medicine is not dangerous, but it is not recommended for all types of medicine.

The reason is, milk protein can interact with certain medicinal substances so that it inhibits the drug from working properly. There are also drugs that can actually change how the body works to absorb food nutrients when interacting with milk.

Not only that. Drinking milk after taking certain medications can also make side effects worse, or cause new, unusual symptoms.

Medicines that can be taken with milk

Even so, there are types of drugs that are considered safe when consumed with milk or other foods.

This is because milk and food can reduce the side effects of the drug itself, such as nausea, stomach irritation, and other digestive disorders. In certain types of drugs, drinking milk can also help the absorption of the drug into the bloodstream.

The following types of drugs can be taken with milk:

• Corticosteroid drugs such as prednisolone and dexamethasone. This type of drug can increase the removal of calcium and potassium in the body. Therefore, it is recommended to drink this drug with milk to avoid calcium and potassium deficiency in the body.
• Drug non anti-inflammatory steroids (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin, naproxen. These types of medicines can trigger intestinal irritation in some people, so drinking milk after taking the medicine is recommended because it can reduce these side effects.
• Medicines for HIV disease, such as ritonavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir can be taken with milk to make sure they are getting into the bloodstream properly.

Medicines that are not recommended to drink with milk

Some types of antibiotics are not recommended for consumption with milk. For example, tetracycline because calcium in milk binds to antibiotics and prevents absorption of nutrients in the intestine.

In addition, quinolone class antibiotics such as levoflaxcin, ciprofloxacin, and others cannot be taken with milk or dairy products. In fact, not only milk, there are many other types of food that can actually interfere with the performance of the antibiotic itself.

However, not all antibiotics are not taken with or before milk. Some types of antibiotics can actually be better absorbed by the body when taken with food or milk. So, always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any type of medicine. The goal is to ensure that the drugs you are taking can work optimally.

Important things that must be considered when taking medicine

We recommend that you take medicine together with plain water, because plain water does not bind with other substances that can interfere with the absorption of the drug itself. If you want to drink milk after taking the medicine, give it a break of at least 3-4 hours from the last time you took the medicine. That way, the process of drug absorption in the body is not hampered and you will get optimal benefits from the drug's effectiveness.

In addition, it is important for you to always read the rules for using drugs, which are usually printed on the packaging label carefully. Especially if you take medication without a doctor's prescription.

Taking medication without a prescription that is not according to the rules for use can actually make your condition worse. This happens because you may take too many doses of the drug, the drug reacts with other diseases you have, the performance of the drug is disturbed by other drugs that you are currently using, or it could be because you took the wrong time when taking the drug.

So, in order to avoid the various possibilities above, it is important for you to read the rules for using the drugs you are taking. Make sure if the medicine you are using is in accordance with the disease you have. If necessary, ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are confused or worried about the drugs you will take.