How long after a meal can I take medicine

There are many things to pay attention to when taking medicine. Only by taking medicine at the appropriate time can the best effect be achieved, and it will not damage your gastrointestinal tract after taking some medicine, causing gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, you should wait half an hour after a meal to take medicine. You cannot take medicine immediately. However, the specific decision should be made based on the type of medicine you are taking.

Appropriate dosing intervals are necessary to maintain stable blood drug concentrations and ensure that the drug is non-toxic and effective. If the dosing interval is too long, effective blood drug concentration cannot be maintained; if the interval is too short, it may cause an overdose of the drug in the body and even cause poisoning. According to the metabolic rules of drugs in the body, drugs are administered at a constant rate and dosage at intervals of the drug's plasma half-life, and the blood drug concentration can reach a steady state after 4 to 6 half-lives. In actual application, most drugs are administered 3 to 4 times a day. Only special drugs, such as digitalis drugs, are prescribed with special dosing intervals under special circumstances.

For some drugs that are metabolized quickly, intravenous drip can be used to maintain a constant blood drug concentration, such as norepinephrine and oxytocin. For some drugs that are affected by the body's biological rhythms, the time of use should be determined according to their rhythms. For example, for long-term use of adrenal cortex hormones, based on the characteristic that hormone secretion is highest in the morning, the drug should be administered in the early morning every day to increase efficacy and reduce side effects.

The timing of taking medication should depend on the specific medication. Drugs that are easily affected by stomach acid should be taken before meals, such as antacids; drugs that are easily irritating to the gastrointestinal tract should be taken after meals, such as aspirin, indomethacin, etc.; and sedatives and hypnotics should be taken before bedtime to facilitate their effectiveness and allow you to fall asleep at the right time.

The length of the treatment course should depend on the condition of the disease. Generally, the medication can be stopped after the symptoms disappear. However, for patients with chronic diseases who require long-term medication, the medication should be given according to the prescribed course of treatment. For example, anti-tuberculosis drugs should generally be used continuously for at least six months to one year. In addition, the length of treatment should also be determined according to the toxicity of the drug. For example, anticancer drugs should be administered using intermittent therapy.

Body factors that affect drug action

Some patients are particularly sensitive to certain drugs, which is called hypersensitivity; conversely, low sensitivity to drugs is called tolerance; some patients' reactions to drugs are qualitatively different from others, which is called allergic reaction. Therefore, clinical medication should be based not only on the pharmacological effects of the drugs, but also on the actual conditions of the patients, so as to provide treatment tailored to the individual. The body factors that affect the action of drugs mainly include: age, gender, pathological condition, mental factors, genetic factors and nutritional status.