Comments for Consumers
This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.
Australian Prescriber Vol. 29 No. 2 2006
Meals and medicines
Medicines taken by mouth go into the gut. They are then absorbed into the blood stream.
If there is food in the gut it can affect how much medicine is absorbed. The type of food can also affect absorption. For example, grapefruit juice can boost the absorption of some medicines. This could have good or bad effects.
Most medicine packets or the consumer medicines information will say if the medicine needs to be taken before or after meals. It is important to always try and take a medicine at the same time in relation to meals.
