MedSurfer.com » Men’s Health http://www.medsurfer.com/blog Guide to Your Health Assessment Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:44:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Which medications should I take with food and which one without? http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/08/17/which-medications-should-i-take-with-food-and-which-one-without/ http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/08/17/which-medications-should-i-take-with-food-and-which-one-without/#comments Thu, 17 Aug 2006 22:10:05 +0000 adarshgupta http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/08/17/which-medications-should-i-take-with-food-and-which-one-without/ You may have ask this questions many time whenever you were given a prescription medication by your doctor. Should I take this with food or before food or on empty stomach and so on.

Not all medicines are affected by food, but many medicines can be affected by what you eat and when you eat it. For example, taking some medicines at the same time that you eat may interfere with the way your stomach and intestines absorb the medicine. The food may delay or decrease the absorption of the drug. This is why some medicines should be taken on an empty stomach (1 hour before eating or 2 hours after eating). On the other hand, some medicines are easier to tolerate when taken with food.

Here is a simple list covering most of common medication class and their association with food:

  • ACE-Inhibitors (Blood pressure medication class), such as ZESTRIL, PRINIVIL, CAPOTEN, VASOTEC
    Take on empty stomach, 1 hour before meals. Take at the same time each day. Eat foods low in sodium and calcium. Limit potassium intake. Do not use salt substitutes.
  • Diuretics (”water pill” for blood pressure and leg swelling), such as LASIX, BUMEX, DEMADEX
    May take with food or milk. Take last dose of the day before 6 P.M. (so that you don’t have to get up at night to go to bathroom)
  • Erythromycins (Antibiotics), such as E-MYCIN, BIAXIN, ZITHROMAX
    Take with food if it upsets your stomach
  • Glipizide (Diabetes Drug class), such as GLUCOTROL, GLUCOTROL-XL
    Take 30 minutes before a meal. Follow your diabetes meal plan. Avoid alcohol. Do not crush Glucotrol-XL tablets
  • Glyburide (Diabetes Drug class), such as DIABETA, MICRONASE
    Take with a meal. Follow your diabetes meal plan. Avoid alcohol.
  • Metformin (Diabetes Drug class), such as GLUCOPHAGE
    Take with a meal. Follow your diabetes meal plan. Avoid alcohol.
  • NSAIDs (For Pain), such as ASPIRIN, CELEBREX, MOTRIN, NAPROSYN, VOLTAREN
    Take with food or milk
  • Quinolones (Antibiotics), such as CIPRO, LEVAQUIN, TEQUIN
    Drink plenty of fluids. Do not take with antacids or iron supplements
  • Statins (For Cholesterol), such as LIPITOR, ZOCOR, MEVACOR
    Take with evening meal. Follow low cholesterol diet
  • Warfarin (Blood thinner), such as COUMADIN
    Avoid alcohol and limit the amount of foods high in vitamin K that you eat such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Do not take aspirin or aspirin products while taking this medication.
  • Bisphosphonates (For Osteoporosis), such as FOSAMAX, ACTONEL, BONIVA
    Must be taken at least one-half hour before the first food, beverage, or medication of the day with plain water only. Patients should not lie down for at least 30 minutes and until after their first food of the day.

Additional Reading:

 

]]> http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/08/17/which-medications-should-i-take-with-food-and-which-one-without/feed/ Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse – What is the Difference? http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/05/04/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse-%e2%80%93-what-is-the-difference/ http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/05/04/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse-%e2%80%93-what-is-the-difference/#comments Thu, 04 May 2006 16:41:45 +0000 adarshgupta http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/05/04/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse-%e2%80%93-what-is-the-difference/ Moderate alcohol use – upto 2 drink/day for men and upto 1 drink per/day for women and older people – is not harmful for most adults. The problem arises when people abuse alcohol. The abuse of alcohol is a major cause of preventable deaths associated with violence, and motor vehicle crashes. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy.

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

  • Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities;
  • Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery;
  • Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk; and
  • Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking.

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is more severe pattern of drinking that includes the problem of alcohol abuse plus persistent drinking in spite of obvious physical, mental and social problems causes by alcohol. It includes four symptoms:

  • Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
  • Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion.
  • Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
  • Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to “get high.”

Source: “Alcoholism – getting the facts”, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

For More Information:

]]> http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/05/04/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse-%e2%80%93-what-is-the-difference/feed/ Fish Oil Supplementation for Heart Protection: How Much? http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/05/02/fish-oil-supplementation-for-heart-protection-how-much/ http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/2006/05/02/fish-oil-supplementation-for-heart-protection-how-much/#comments Wed, 03 May 2006 02:51:19 +0000 adarshgupta http://www.medsurfer.com/blog/archives/20 There have been many claims for benefits of fish oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids) in multiple disease conditions. Todate, the strongest evidence of benefit is in the area of cardiovascular health, particularly the two longchain omega-3 fatty acids - Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The American Heart Association recently issued guidelines for the intake of omega-3 oils.

What are Good Dietary sources?

EPA and DHA are found almost exclusively in seafood.Fish do not produce EPA and DHA. Rather, these oils are synthesized by single-celled marine organisms that fish eat. These fatty acids are essential for fish as well as for humans.
Generally speaking, the “oilier” the fish, the more EPA and DHA are present. Fish that tend to have high concentrations include tuna, sardines, salmon, mackerel, and herring.

What is the recommended intake of Omega-3 fatty acids?

The American Heart Association recommends about 1 g of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids per day for those with known coronary heart disease. People with no known heart disease should eat oily fish at least twice a week.

As the fish oil capsules dissolve in the stomach and release the oil, many people experience a “fishy burp.” Although obviously not a “side effect” in the usual sense, it can be bothersome. Taking the capsules at bedtime and freezing them can minimize or even eliminate this problem.

NOTE:

Since mercury toxicity is mainly a concern for fetuses and breast-fed infants, the US Food and Drug Administration’s advice to avoid contaminated fish is directed primarily at pregnant women, those wanting to become pregnant, and nursing mothers.

For More Information:
Harris WS. Fish Oil Supplementation: evidence for health benefirts. Cleveland Clin J Med. 2004; 71:208 (PDF version)http://www.ccjm.org/PDFFILES/Harris304.pdf

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