Doctors often recommend some medicines on an empty stomach because the food or drink can affect the way they work. Some medicines taken by mouth can affect the digestive system to cause more harm than good.
Prescribed medicines must be consumed as suggested. Otherwise, their side effects can irritate the food pipe to cause internal injury like ulcers, narrowing of the pipe, etc. These medicines include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, theophylline, oral antibiotics, birth control pills, nitrates and calcium channel blockers that can back up the stomach acid into the food pipe. Constipation and diarrhoea are other common side effects induced by the digestive system in response to medicines, if not eaten as recommended.
Another study has shown that eating some medicines on an empty stomach can prevent the intestine from absorbing the medicines making them less effective. Moreover, some foods can mix with the medicine to affect the blood level and cause a potentially dangerous condition. Also, certain food items can neutralise the effect of medicine to cause no relief.
In conclusion, it is recommended to follow the instructions of the doctor before consuming the medicine. Even if you are unsure of how to eat the prescribed medicine, it is always better to talk to your doctor for advice.
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