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Never Mix Cold Medicine with Juice, and Here’s the Reason Why

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Caffeine Beverages like Coke and Coffee Worsen Stomach Inflammation
Fruit Juices Diminish the Efficacy of Antihistamine Medications

Office worker A, living in Seoul, once took his cold medicine with orange juice instead of water. Later, he visited the hospital on October 4th. Upon hearing from the doctor that he should not take cold medicine with juice, as reported by Newsis on October 5th, he regretted his actions.

A stock photo from Shutterstock to aid in understanding the article. / New Africa-Shutterstock.com
 

According to the medical community on October 5th, avoiding cold medicine (antihistamines) with fruit juices like grapefruit and orange is recommended.

Antihistamines are used to relieve symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes caused by upper respiratory allergies and to treat colds.

Suppose you drink grapefruit, orange, or apple juice instead of water while taking antihistamines. In that case, it can affect the acidity in the stomach, interfere with the absorption of the medicine, and decrease its effectiveness.

The same goes for alcohol. Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system and causes drowsiness, so avoiding drinking when taking medicine is best.

A photo to aid in understanding the article. / Pormezz-Shutterstock.com
 

There are also foods to be careful of when taking medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers. Histamine receptor antagonists, prostaglandin (a powerful biologically active hormone) preparations, and antacids are used as treatments for symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders such as acid reflux, heartburn, digestive disorders, and bloating.

These treatments reduce the amount of stomach acid produced in the body or protect the stomach from stomach acid to relieve inflammation and pain.

However, if you eat these treatments with coffee, Coke, tea, chocolate, etc., the caffeine can stimulate stomach acid secretion and worsen stomach inflammation. Also, alcohol can exacerbate stomach inflammation, making treatment difficult and potentially prolonging the treatment period, so it should be avoided.

Consuming coffee, Coke, tea, chocolate, etc., can stimulate stomach acid secretion and worsen stomach inflammation. / Boyan Dimitrov-Shutterstock.com
 

In the case of orange juice, if you drink it with an antacid containing aluminum, the aluminum component can be absorbed into the body, so it should not be taken together.

Magnesium and calcium antacids should be used cautiously with large amounts of milk or regular calcium preparations. Milk-alkali syndrome (hypercalcemia, hyper azotemia, alkalosis, etc.), which can cause dehydration or vomiting, can occur.

Thyroid treatments should be adjusted when consuming soy flour, cottonseed flour, walnuts, and dietary fiber, and the doctor should be informed. Also, grapefruit juice and coffee can delay the absorption of the medicine and reduce its effectiveness, so they should not be consumed together. These foods can prevent the main component of the thyroid treatment from being absorbed in our body.

It would be best if you were careful when taking laxatives with milk. The alkaline nature of milk neutralizes stomach acid and damages the protective layer of the medicine. The medicine can dissolve in the stomach before reaching the colon, preventing proper drug absorption.

In addition, the dissolved medicine can reduce its effectiveness and stimulate the stomach, causing abdominal pain and stomach cramps. Therefore, you should not simultaneously consume milk or dairy products when taking laxatives.

By. Kwon Mi-sung (misung@wikitree.co.kr)

wikitree
content@viewusglobal.com

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