Meds and food..

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  1. by Dec 3, '12
    Sorry this may br a stupid queation..Does anyone have a good way to remember what meds you take with food and which ones you take on an empty stomach..
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    by RNFinally12 Dec 3, '12 8:20 pm
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  3. 10 Comments so far...

  4. Dec 3, '12 by
    Hi, I am trying my best to summarize all the common drugs that are usually seen on practice tests.
    for most of the meds, if u know the side effects, u may figure out what meds taken on empty stomach or with food

    -antacid: always taken after meal cuz stomach food produces acid. Antacid (anti-acid) help the body neutralize that excess acid in the stomach to reduce pain
    -Antibiotics:all must take on an empty stomach EXCEPT FOR C&S cephalosporins (prefix cep) and Sulfonamides ( prefix sul) Cephalosporins are recommended to be taken with milk or yogurt
    -Antidepressant :
    SSRI: taken AM cuz of insomnia side effect
    Tricyclics: taken HS cuz of sedation side effect
    -Antiemetics: Reglan: take before meal cuz it interferes with food, and at night to prevent heartburn
    -Antifungal: take with food to decrease GI upset (antiFungal - Food )
    -Antigout: take with meal
    -Antilipemic agents:
    Bile acid sequestrants: take 1h before or 4-6 h after other meds to avoid blocking absorption
    HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (statins) : take with food and at night
    -Antihypertensives:
    ACE inhibitors: empty stomach ( ACEmpty....got it? )
    Beta blockers: with meal
    Aldomet: take at hs to reduce daytime drowsiness
    Apresoline: with meal
    alpha 1 blockers (suffix zosin) take at hs to avoid fainting
    -Antithyroid: with meal
    -thyroid replacement med: Cytomel: take in AM cuz of nervousness side effect
    -TB drugs:
    INH: before meal
    Rifadin: with meal
    -ADHD drugs: the two common drugs are Ritalin and dexedrine ( i remember Ride )
    Ritalin: give 6h before hs cuz of insomnia side effect, give pc
    Dexedrine: give in AM to prevent insomnia
    -Diuretics :take with food or milk and of course in AM (yes! polyuria side effect)
    -Iron preparations: Feosol, Imferon (Fe Fe Fe...more fiber fiber....)
    -NSAIDs: with food or pc
    -Ulcers meds: mostly with meal except for Carafate: WITH EMPTY STOMACH cuz it will coat the surface of stomach (you don't want it to coat on surface of food ) to form a protective barrier

    Hope this helps, good luck!
    KbmRN, mzmae, Analea, and 2 others like this.
  5. Asst. Admin
    Dec 4, '12 by
    duplicate threads merged
  6. Dec 4, '12 by
    Jane_88,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to type that out. That is such a HUGE help.
    Esme12 likes this.
  7. Dec 4, '12 by
    Quote from RNWannabe12
    Jane_88,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to type that out. That is such a HUGE help.
    You are very welcome
    KbmRN and Esme12 like this.
  8. Asst. Admin
    Dec 4, '12 by
    Quote from jane_88
    Hi, I am trying my best to summarize all the common drugs that are usually seen on practice tests.
    for most of the meds, if u know the side effects, u may figure out what meds taken on empty stomach or with food

    -antacid: always taken after meal cuz stomach food produces acid. Antacid (anti-acid) help the body neutralize that excess acid in the stomach to reduce pain
    -Antibiotics:all must take on an empty stomach EXCEPT FOR C&S cephalosporins (prefix cep) and Sulfonamides ( prefix sul) Cephalosporins are recommended to be taken with milk or yogurt
    -Antidepressant :
    SSRI: taken AM cuz of insomnia side effect
    Tricyclics: taken HS cuz of sedation side effect
    -Antiemetics: Reglan: take before meal cuz it interferes with food, and at night to prevent heartburn
    -Antifungal: take with food to decrease GI upset (antiFungal - Food )
    -Antigout: take with meal
    -Antilipemic agents:
    Bile acid sequestrants: take 1h before or 4-6 h after other meds to avoid blocking absorption
    HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (statins) : take with food and at night
    -Antihypertensives:
    ACE inhibitors: empty stomach ( ACEmpty....got it? )
    Beta blockers: with meal
    Aldomet: take at hs to reduce daytime drowsiness
    Apresoline: with meal
    alpha 1 blockers (suffix zosin) take at hs to avoid fainting
    -Antithyroid: with meal
    -thyroid replacement med: Cytomel: take in AM cuz of nervousness side effect
    -TB drugs:
    INH: before meal
    Rifadin: with meal
    -ADHD drugs: the two common drugs are Ritalin and dexedrine ( i remember Ride )
    Ritalin: give 6h before hs cuz of insomnia side effect, give pc
    Dexedrine: give in AM to prevent insomnia
    -Diuretics :take with food or milk and of course in AM (yes! polyuria side effect)
    -Iron preparations: Feosol, Imferon (Fe Fe Fe...more fiber fiber....)
    -NSAIDs: with food or pc
    -Ulcers meds: mostly with meal except for Carafate: WITH EMPTY STOMACH cuz it will coat the surface of stomach (you don't want it to coat on surface of food ) to form a protective barrier

    Hope this helps, good luck!
    Great list of drugs/foods!!!!
  9. Dec 5, '12 by
    What is hs?
  10. Asst. Admin
    Dec 5, '12 by
    Quote from mwc1230
    What is hs?
    HS= hour of sleep aka bedtime.
  11. Asst. Admin
    Dec 5, '12 by
    Quote from mwc1230
    What is hs?
    h.s. is an abbreviation for the Latin "hors somni" (at the hour of sleep) or bedtime.
  12. Dec 7, '12 by
    My head was in the clouds! Lol I thought I posted right after that I realized what it was. Haha