Don't drink coffee after taking medicine

Consumption of drugs after drinking coffee is still often done by some people. In fact, drinking coffee after taking certain drugs can have an adverse impact on the body. What are the impacts?

Consumption of drugs after drinking beverages such as coffee, is usually done to disguise the bitter taste or smell of the drug. This is actually not recommended, because these drinks contain caffeine which can trigger drug interactions when consumed together or in close proximity. Taking certain medications after drinking coffee can interfere with the breakdown of caffeine in the liver. As a result, caffeine is not broken down properly and accumulates in the blood.

Excess caffeine levels in the blood can cause effects in the form of anxiety, increased blood pressure, agitation, and palpitations. One type of drug that can interfere with the breakdown of caffeine is birth control pills.

Coffee contains tannins, which are compounds that can bind to drugs and reduce drug absorption. As a result, the absorption of substances from drugs that the body needs to treat certain conditions is not optimal. Caffeine is a stimulant that can stimulate the nervous system. This can be bad when combined with drugs that are also stimulants, such as theophylline or pseudoephedrine.

Consumption of coffee after taking these drugs can increase the risk of drug side effects, such as difficulty sleeping, restlessness, headaches, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, and even irregular pulse. In addition, coffee consumption along with anticoagulant drugs, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, ibuprofen, and naproxen, is known to increase the side effects of these drugs. One of the dangerous side effects is bleeding and shock.

Caffeine has also been shown to inhibit the action of several types of drugs, such as pentobarbital and antidepressant drugs, such as amitriptyline and imipramine. This is because of the stimulant effect of caffeine which can inhibit the action of the drug in causing drowsiness.

Seeing the various effects that can be caused, it would be nice if you avoid taking any drugs after drinking coffee. If you already drink coffee and want to take medication, at least wait about 2 hours to reduce the risk of interactions between caffeine and drugs. That way, unwanted side effects can be avoided.

If you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, fast and irregular heartbeat, repeated vomiting, or even decreased consciousness due to taking medication after drinking coffee, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.