If you forget to take your medicine, should you take it again? The pharmacist reveals the correct answer: If it exceeds "this time", you should just skip it!
Not only Western medicine is divided into meals and after meals! When should Chinese and Western medicine be taken for the best effect?
When it comes to medicines, have you ever been confused about when to take them? In order to help the public establish a correct view of medication time, the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration and pharmacist Wu Bohan of Taipei City Hospital Linsen Chinese Medicine Branch explained that in fact, not only Western medicine, but also Chinese medicine, there are many precautions . People can learn about it from three time points: taking medicine before meals, taking medicine after meals and taking medicine with meals:
Take medicine after a meal: Taking medicine after a meal means taking medicine “within 1 hour after a meal”. Pharmacist Wu Bohan said that certain medicines will have gastrointestinal side effects after taking them. Side effects can be reduced if taken after meals, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDs). In addition, vitamins and iron supplements are also recommended to be taken after meals. , can achieve better absorption effect.
As for traditional Chinese medicine, if it is a medicine that dispels rheumatism, clears away heat and detoxifies, it is recommended to take it after a meal to reduce gastrointestinal irritation. If it is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that treats parts above the chest and diaphragm (such as the heart, lungs), taking it after a meal can help. To increase the efficacy of medicine.
Take medicine before meals: Taking medicine before meals means taking medicine “30 minutes to 1 hour before meals” or “more than 2 hours after meals”. Some medicines are easily affected by food, so they need to be taken before meals, such as levothyroxine. Taking certain medicines on an empty stomach is related to the time it takes for the medicine to take effect. For example, taking blood sugar medicine before meals can help reduce postprandial blood sugar.
In terms of traditional Chinese medicine, it is recommended to take Qi-tonifying medicine, tonic medicine or anthelmintics before meals to increase the effectiveness and absorption of the medicine.
Take medicine with meals: Some medicines can be more effective if taken with meals (eat immediately after taking medicine or take medicine after taking the first bite of food), such as some blood sugar medicines (Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors). In addition, there are some drugs that are better absorbed when taken with food, such as some anti-hepatitis drugs (Tenofovir alafenamide).
Pharmacist Wu Bohan explained that certain Chinese medicine prescriptions, such as Sishen Decoction (yam, gorgon fruit, poria, lotus seeds, etc.), are cooked and eaten together and have a complementary effect, which can promote the effect of the medicine to reach the site of action.
If you forget to take your medicine, should you take it again? The pharmacist replied: If it exceeds “this time”, you should skip it directly!
What should I do if I forget to take medicine before or after meals and there is too much leftover medicine? Pharmacist Wu Bohan pointed out that many people forget to take medicine for a while, and then take it again when they get nervous when they think about it. As a result, they may take twice the dose in a short period of time, which may not be of much help in recovering from the disease.
Pharmacist Wu Bohan explained that when people forget to take medicine, they can first use “half of the medication cycle” as a basis to calculate whether they need to take more medicine. For example, a medicine must be taken in the morning, noon and evening. If there is a 6-hour interval between each meal, then half of the medicine-taking period is 3 hours; if you forget to take the medicine after breakfast, the medicine must be taken within half (3 hours) of the medicine-taking period. You can take a supplement; but if you remember it after more than 3 hours, you should skip the morning dose and wait until noon to take the same dose. The dosage of a few medicines needs to be adjusted when taking refills. Be sure to consult with your pharmacist when receiving medicines.
Do not throw away medicines that have deteriorated or expired! 5. Drugs should be brought to medical institutions for recycling
Pharmacist Wu Bohan also reminded that the best way to preserve medicines is generally to put them in a drying cabinet away from direct sunlight and moisture. The best storage temperature is below 25°C to avoid deterioration of medicines. However, some medicines must be kept in the refrigerator, such as certain eye drops, diabetes medicine insulin, etc. Therefore, when you get the medicine, you can check the information on the medicine bag first, or you can ask the pharmacist whether there are any special restrictions on medicine storage.
If medicines are leftover, spoiled, or expired, should they be discarded directly? Pharmacist Wu Bohan suggested that general pills and tablets can be put into ziplock bags and discarded; potions and ointments should be poured into the ziplock bag first, and the ointment should be squeezed into the ziplock bag, and then put coffee grounds or toilet paper into the ziplock bag and put it in. Absorb the liquid to avoid spilling, seal it tightly before throwing it into the general trash can. The remaining medicine cans and medicine bags will be recycled according to the material type.
It is worth noting that anti-cancer drugs, immunosuppressants, antibiotics, hormone preparations and other drugs that are harmful to the ecological environment and “used discarded syringes and needles” (should be packed in hard cans) should be brought to pharmacies or hospitals. It assists in recycling and processing to avoid harming the ecological environment. Taiwan Food and Drug Administration also reminds that when taking medicine, you should follow the instructions on the medicine bag to take medicine, save and discard, and check the safety of your own medicine and the environment.
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