Stagger Your Coffee Intake from These Six Types of Medication

At a Glance (China Coffee Network): For many people, every morning begins with a cup of coffee. Coffee brings pleasure and energy and is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Yet for some people who are taking medication, coffee may pose certain risks. Below, we detail how coffee affects various types of medication.

For many people, every morning begins with a cup of coffee. Coffee brings pleasure and energy and is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Yet for some people who are taking medication, coffee may pose certain risks. Below, we detail how coffee affects various types of medication.

Coffee and medicine: enemies or friends?

The reason coffee makes people feel energized is caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system. From a pharmacological perspective, caffeine can also stimulate the cardiovascular system, promote gastric acid secretion, and act as a diuretic.

It is precisely these properties that, when coffee meets medication, may produce interactions. These effects mainly influence the absorption and metabolism of drugs, and people on long-term medication need to pay special attention.

At the same time, the interaction between coffee and medication is also related to coffee concentration, the amount consumed, and individual constitution.

Six types of medication best kept away from coffee

Antipyretic analgesics: meeting coffee may cause stomach discomfort. When we catch a cold or have a fever, we often use antipyretic analgesics such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which themselves have the side effect of irritating the gastric mucosa. Caffeine also promotes gastric acid secretion, and under this “double pressure” the gastric mucosa may cause discomfort such as stomach pain, and may even lead to gastritis, gastric ulcers and other conditions.

Anti-osteoporosis drugs: meeting coffee may worsen osteoporosis. Caffeine accelerates the body’s calcium clearance, reduces calcium absorption, and can cause osteoporosis. If you are taking anti-osteoporosis drugs such as alendronate sodium or calcium carbonate, drinking coffee can affect drug absorption, reduce efficacy, and increase calcium loss from the body.

Diuretic antihypertensives: drinking them with coffee produces a “double” diuretic effect. Diuretics are a major class of drugs commonly used in antihypertensives, such as furosemide, spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide. As mentioned, caffeine has a diuretic effect; if taken together with diuretics, the diuretic effect is compounded, which may cause excessive loss of potassium and sodium in the body and lead to electrolyte imbalance. Moreover, caffeine also has a blood-pressure-raising effect, antagonizing the antihypertensive effect of diuretics.

Thyroid hormone drugs: coffee can reduce their efficacy. For example, levothyroxine sodium, coffee can reduce the intestinal absorption of these drugs by about half, weakening their effect.

Quinolone antibiotics: taking them with coffee may increase adverse reactions. Drinking coffee may intensify the adverse reactions of quinolone antibiotics on the central nervous system, causing headaches, dizziness and other symptoms. Representative drugs include levofloxacin and moxifloxacin.

Sedatives and hypnotics: their effect is opposite to that of coffee. If you are using sedatives such as diazepam or estazolam, you should avoid coffee, as their effects cancel each other out.

How to resolve the conflict between coffee and medication

Although coffee can refresh the mind, it can also affect the absorption and metabolism of certain drugs. People on long-term medication can consult a doctor about whether they can drink coffee and the recommended amount.

First, keep a proper time interval between taking medication and drinking coffee. When taking the above drugs that easily interact with coffee, it is recommended to avoid coffee within 1 to 2 hours before or after taking the medication.

Second, control the amount of coffee consumed. Generally, daily caffeine intake should not exceed 400 mg, roughly equivalent to 2 to 3 cups (about 240 ml each) of regular coffee. For special groups such as those with abnormal liver function or the elderly, who take longer to metabolize caffeine, coffee intake should be reduced, and it is best to avoid coffee during medication.

Finally, use room-temperature plain water to take medication. When taking medicine, try to use room-temperature plain water to swallow the pills, which better ensures the drug’s efficacy. In addition, patients currently on medication should pay attention to physical reactions after drinking coffee, including heart-rate changes, sleep quality and mental state. If discomfort occurs, adjust coffee intake promptly or consult a doctor.