the Medications You Shouldn't Take with Coffee 

 

By Courtney Southwick,  

Most people in the United States start their day with a cup of coffee. Many also start their day with medication. Studies have shown that coffee can speed up the process of  food passing through the digestive system, which can also affect medications.  

Drinking coffee and taking medications at the same time can affect the rate at which the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream. A group of researchers investigated numerous medications and the effects of coffee on them.  

Not all medications are affected by drinking coffee. People taking the following medications may benefit from changing the timing of their morning coffee: Thyroid Medications 

When you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland (the butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck) doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. This can lead to weight gain, dry skin, joint pain, hair loss, and  menstrual irregularities. 

Many people are prescribed levothyroxine or other medications to keep their hormone levels in balance. Studies have shown that drinking coffee while taking thyroid medications can decrease the absorption of the medication in your body, making the medication less effective. 4 And this effect is not small. Patients report that coffee can further increase the absorption of thyroid medications, decreasing their absorption by more than half. 

Cold or Allergy Medications 

Millions of people take cold or allergy medications, but those medications often contain central nervous system stimulants such as pseudoephedrine.  Because coffee also contains stimulants, washing down your allergy medications with coffee can worsen symptoms such as restlessness and insomnia. Some allergy medications, such as fexofenadine, should not be taken with coffee because they can overstimulate the central nervous system and increase symptoms of agitation.  It is always a good idea to ask your doctor for advice on combining coffee with cold or allergy medications. 

 Diabetes medications 

Adding sugar or milk to coffee can increase blood sugar levels and reduce the effectiveness of diabetes medications. In addition, studies have shown that caffeine can worsen symptoms in people with diabetes. 

According to a study by the American Diabetes Association, drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee can increase insulin and blood sugar levels. This study was small, so more research is needed. Still, the researchers warned that  too much caffeine can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, which could ultimately increase the risk of diabetic complications. 

Diabetes and prediabetes are very common in the United States and other Western countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 37 million Americans have diabetes and nearly 100 million have prediabetes.8 Most people are unaware that they have diabetes. Given these figures, it's no wonder that millions of people take diabetes medication every day. 

 Alzheimer's Disease Drugs 

Alzheimer's disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, primarily affecting people over the age of 65. Alzheimer's disease is a  brain disease that causes loss of cognitive function, making it difficult to think, remember, and complete daily tasks. Millions of Americans live with Alzheimer's disease and take medications to treat it. 

Alzheimer's drugs, such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, are affected by caffeine. The caffeine in coffee can tighten the blood-brain barrier, reducing the amount of drugs that reach the  brain. Alzheimer's drugs work by protecting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, but consuming large amounts of coffee has been shown to impair this protective effect. 

Asthma medications 

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs, causing inflammation and irritation of the airways. This causes difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing, and chest tightness. In the United States, millions of people, both adults and children, live with asthma and take asthma medications. 

Many  asthma patients take bronchodilators, such as aminophylline and theophylline, during asthma attacks. Bronchodilators work by relaxing the airways and making breathing easier, but they can have side effects, such as headaches, restlessness, stomach aches, and irritability. Drinking coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages may increase the risk of these side effects.  Coffee may also limit your intake. Use of medications through your body.  

 Osteoporosis medications 

Osteoporosis causes bones to  thin and become brittle, increasing the risk of fractures. Millions of people suffer from osteoporosis, but it is most common in women, especially those who have already gone through menopause. 

Medications such as risedronate and ibandronate prevent and treat osteoporosis. They should not be taken at the same time as coffee, as this will reduce the effectiveness of the medication. It is recommended that  these medications be taken before eating  and drinking, and that the tablets be washed down only  with plain water. This will allow the body to optimally utilize the full amount of the medication. Drinking coffee with these medications can reduce the effectiveness of the medication by more than half. 

Coffee contains a lot of caffeine, which has a stimulant effect. 

  Coffee can be a gastrointestinal irritant, affecting the  gastrointestinal tract. This can change the way your body breaks down and absorbs  medications. You may  need to change the timing of your coffee breaks. However, be sure to contact your doctor if you experience any symptoms.