Khaberni - Coffee is a fundamental part of the morning routine for millions of people, yet this stimulating beverage can turn into an unexpected health problem when taken with certain medications.
Health experts warn that caffeine may reduce the effectiveness of certain drugs, increase their side effects, or cause dangerous interactions, according to the medical website WebMD.
Here are the most important medications that are best not taken with coffee.
1. Common pain relievers
Caffeine has a surprising effect with drugs such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, as it can enhance their effectiveness by up to 10%. Researchers believe that caffeine helps the body absorb the medication faster and keeps it in the blood for a longer period.
Therefore, it is possible to have a cup of coffee with a dose of pain reliever, but it is advisable not to overdo the caffeine to avoid stomach pains or increased heart rate.
2. Allergy and cold medicines
Many of these medications contain the stimulant "pseudoephedrine", which becomes more potent when mixed with coffee, which may cause symptoms such as shivering, tension, insomnia, and elevated sugar levels for diabetes patients.
As for antihistamines that cause drowsiness like "Benadryl", they do not have the same interaction, but they may negate the effect of caffeine and increase the feeling of drowsiness.
3. Blood pressure medications
Caffeine increases blood pressure and raises heart rate, which counters the effect of blood pressure-lowering medications, especially those that work to slow the heart rate or widen the arteries.
Therefore, doctors advise blood pressure patients to abstain from coffee in the initial period after taking the medication, or to choose alternatives like herbal tea or natural stimulant foods.
4. Blood thinners
Medications like "warfarin" work to prevent clotting, while caffeine also slows clotting. The combination of the two may lead to easy bleeding and bruising.
Thus, it is advised to reduce the quantity to the minimum and consult the doctor.
5. Thyroid medications
Coffee also weakens the absorption of the drug "levothyroxine", making treatment for thyroid deficiency less effective. Thus, the solution lies in taking the medication on an empty stomach, and waiting 30 to 60 minutes before drinking coffee.
6. Antidepressants
Moreover, caffeine interacts with antidepressants differently depending on the type, and with some types, it may extend the presence of the medication in the body, while in others it may cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure. Coffee can also increase stress and insomnia for some, which exacerbates depression symptoms.
7. Antipsychotics
Caffeine and antipsychotics are metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver; they compete for the same pathway, which may reduce the effectiveness of the medication or increase psychotic symptoms, such as anxiety and sleep disturbances.
8. Diabetes medications
Two doses of strong coffee (200 mg of caffeine) can alter the body's response to insulin, causing a sudden rise in sugar or an unwanted drop. Therefore, diabetic patients who have trouble controlling blood sugar are advised to reduce caffeine.
9. Asthma medications
Caffeine chemically resembles the drug "theophylline", which may double the effects of the latter and increase symptoms of nervousness and confusion... However, some studies suggest that coffee might slightly improve breathing, so careful balancing is necessary.
10. Some antibiotics
Some antibiotics interact with coffee, especially "quinolone", which slows down the breakdown of caffeine, making its effect last longer and increasing disturbance and insomnia.
11. Immune medications
The results are mixed, but some studies suggest that the effectiveness of the drug "methotrexate" may decline with excessive coffee consumption.
12. Alzheimer's medications
Caffeine may strengthen the brain-blood barrier and prevent the arrival of medications like "donepezil", "galantamine", and "rivastigmine", thereby weakening their therapeutic effect.
13. Medications that interact with dairy products
Coffee with a lot of milk may reduce the absorption of certain antibiotics, osteoporosis drugs, iron supplements, and thyroid medications. Therefore, it is necessary to take the medication away from dairy products.
