Why Do Some Medications Work Best After Meals? Experts Explain

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Doctors often advise patients to take certain medications either before or after meals. Following this instruction is not arbitrary—it’s essential for ensuring the medication’s effectiveness and minimizing side effects. You may have noticed that many medications are prescribed to be taken after eating. But why is this the case? 

As quoted from Mount Elizabeth and National Health Service, here are some reasons why certain medications work better when taken after eating:

1. Improves Tolerance and Reduces Stomach Discomfort

Taking medication after eating helps lessen the chances of stomach irritation and gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting. The presence of food in the stomach serves as a protective layer, buffering the stomach lining from the harsh chemical properties of some drugs.

For example, iron supplements or medications like allopurinol, which is used to prevent gout attacks, can cause significant discomfort when taken on an empty stomach. Consuming these medications after a meal reduces the likelihood of adverse effects.

Aspirin, another common drug, is also notorious for irritating the stomach lining and is better tolerated when taken with food.

2. Aids in Better Drug Absorption

Some drugs are absorbed more efficiently when taken alongside food. Eating slows down gastric emptying, which means that the medication remains in the digestive tract longer, allowing more time for the body to absorb it.

Medications that are fat-soluble—such as certain anti-malarial and anti-parasitic drugs—require dietary fats to be absorbed properly. Taking them after a meal helps ensure that the active components are fully processed by the body, boosting their effectiveness.

3. Minimizes Risk of Nausea and Vomiting

Medications like allopurinol or bromocriptine are known to cause nausea in some patients. Taking these drugs after meals can help manage or prevent such side effects. Food in the stomach cushions the gastrointestinal lining from the drug, making the experience more tolerable.

4. Prevents Gastric Irritation and Ulcers

Some medications can lead to more serious digestive issues if taken on an empty stomach. To avoid problems such as stomach ulcers or acid reflux, doctors often recommend consuming light snacks—such as bread, biscuits, or milk—before taking such medications. This reduces the risk of inflammation and discomfort.

5. Boosts Effectiveness of Antacids

Antacid medications are specifically designed to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and other digestive issues by neutralizing stomach acid. Since stomach acid levels rise after eating, these medications work best when taken immediately after a meal, allowing them to act at the peak of acid production.

Winda Oktavia contributed to the writing of this article.

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