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Can I Drink Milk After Taking Medicine?

Everybody has their own habit when taking medicine. For instance, some of you maybe need to take medication by eating bananas, drinking tea, or just enough with water. However, what happens if you take medicine using milk? Can you drink milk after taking medicine? Find out the answer here.

Can I drink milk after taking medicine?

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

drinking milk
Because the milk protein can interact with certain medicinal substances so that it interferes the drug from working properly. There are also drugs that can actually change the way the body works to absorb food nutrients when interacting with milk.

Not only that. Drinking milk after taking certain medications can also trigger side effects to get worse, or it actually raises unusual new symptoms.

Medicines that can be taken with milk

However, 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 drugs 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, this drug is recommended to drink with milk to avoid the body lacking calcium and potassium.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin, naproxen. This type of medication can trigger intestinal irritation in some people, so drinking milk after taking medication is recommended because it can reduce these side effects.

Drugs for HIV disease, such as ritonavir, saquinavir, and nelfinavir can be taken with milk to ensure that they are properly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Drugs that are not recommended are taken with milk

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

So, it is safe to drink milk after taking some medicine.
In addition, quinolone antibiotics such as levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and others also cannot be taken with milk or dairy products. Even not only milk, but there are also many other types of foods that can actually interfere with the performance of the antibiotic itself.

However, not all antibiotics cannot be drunk together with milk. Some types of antibiotics can be absorbed better 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 medication you are taking can work optimally.

Important things that must be considered when taking medicine

You should take medication along with water because water does not bind to other substances that can interfere with the absorption of the drug itself. If you want to drink milk after taking medicine, give it a break of at least 3-4 hours from the last time you took the medicine.

That way, the process of absorption of drugs in the body is not hampered and you will also get the optimal benefits from the drug.

Moreover, it is important for you to always read the notes for using drugs that are usually printed on the packaging label carefully. Especially if you take medicine without a prescription.

Taking medicine without a prescription that does not comply with the rules of use can actually make your condition worse. This happens because you can take medication with too many doses, the drug reacts with other diseases you have, the performance of the drug is interrupted by other drugs you are using, or it could be because of your wrong when you took medication.

Well, in order to avoid the various possibilities above, it is important for you to read the rules for using the drug you are going to consume. Make sure if the medication you are using matches to the disease you have. If it is necessary, ask the pharmacist or doctor if you are confused or worried about the medication you are about to take.

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