Taking medications with poorly chosen drinks during colds and flu can reduce the effectiveness of treatment. This was stated to RIA Novosti by pharmacist Ivan Yalanji. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the specialist, during the cold season most people often drink tea. However, taking medications with tea can reduce the effectiveness of the active substances they contain.
Drinking coffee with medication increases the additional burden on the heart and nervous system. In addition, taking medications with citrus fruit juice can also be dangerous. This is because such juices affect the work of liver enzymes that break down medicinal substances. As a result, the concentration of the drug in the body increases, the patient's condition worsens, and there may even be a risk of overdose, the specialist explained.
According to him, even milk and mineral water are not suitable drinks for taking medications. The calcium contained in milk binds with the active substances in certain types of antibiotics and prevents their absorption by the body. As a result, a simple case of tonsillitis may flare up again and lead to more serious complications. Mineral water and carbonated drinks alter the acidity of gastric juice. This, in turn, affects the dissolution time of medications and reduces their effectiveness and safety.
The pharmacist noted that some herbal infusions can also be dangerous. For example, St. John's wort promotes the rapid elimination of many medicinal substances from the body and reduces their concentration. Sedative herbal infusions such as valerian or motherwort can enhance the sedative effect of medications.
"Medications should be taken with 150–200 milliliters of clean, still water at room temperature. It is also necessary to pay careful attention to the information in the instructions regarding the compatibility of medicinal products with drinks," the specialist concluded.