Why Some Medicine require us to eat first before consume them?

Indonesia
November 19, 2009 8:31am CST
Well, almost every time after i go to doctor, some of the medicine they give to me usually require us to eat first before eat the medicine. Do You know why we must eat first? What happened if we consume the medicine if we not eating yet? Tell me what you know about this. Thanks
1 person likes this
3 responses
nimaro
@nimaro (94)
• United States
19 Nov 09
They want you to eat so that your stomach acid doesn't digest the pill before it gets into your bloodstream. If there's food or water in your stomach the pill will have more time to assimilate while the food is being digested.
2 people like this
lordcaocao2025
@lordcaocao2025 (4098)
• Indonesia
20 Nov 09
O i see, so if i eat / drink the medicine before i eat, then it will be a waste of time because i don't get any effect from it? Or did i get, but not the maximal effect? Anyway, thanks for the information, you are good in this. Where do you know of such thing? Thanks.
CathyLee2009
@CathyLee2009 (429)
• China
24 Nov 09
hi,lordcaocao! to do so is to avoid the medcine being destroyed by high acid in the stomach.when the structure of the medcine is destroyed,the effects of it become weak. after food having been taken in,the acid becomes diluted,and won't destroy the structure of the medicine,allowing it works in the body. that's what I know about it. have a nice day!
lordcaocao2025
@lordcaocao2025 (4098)
• Indonesia
24 Nov 09
Wow great, i get so much knowledge here. Thanks for your information my friend. It sure help me a lot. Well from now on i think i prefer just to follow the doctor instruction about how should i consume the medicine. It has a reason of why he / she want me to eat the medicine his way.
Patsie Hatley
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Nov 09
lordcaocao hi some medicine needs to have something in your tummy to buffer it as it dissolves so you do not get an upset tummy so I would think the doctor would have or could have explained that to you. A lot of times if you take the medicine on an empty stomach you will get heartburn or indigestion so take the medicine with food so you will not get that upset tummy.I do not know why doctors do not explain this, it does not take that long to tell a patient why.
lordcaocao2025
@lordcaocao2025 (4098)
• Indonesia
20 Nov 09
O i see, i actually get this kind of medicine a lot. I don't know why, but it seem the doctor just said so, they never explain it, and i don't know why too, but it seem i just follow the doctor instruction with out asking why? It strange isn't it. Anyway, thanks for responding.