YOGYAKARTA - Drinking drugs after drinking milk is often a question for many people. Although in general it doesn't matter, there are some things that need to be considered.

The content in milk, especially calcium, can interact with several types of drugs and reduce their effectiveness. So, what drugs should be avoided by consuming milk in conjunction with milk? Let's discuss it further.

Reporting from the Siloam Hospital page, it should be noted that not all drugs are safe to consume at the same time as milk because it can affect your health.

The potassium contained in milk can bind several types of drugs, such as antibiotics, osteoporosis drugs (for example allendronate), bipolar disorder (lithium) drugs, and HIV (dolutegravir) drugs.

So what happens when you drink milk and then take medication? As a result, the absorption of drugs in the body becomes disrupted and the effectiveness decreases.

In addition, thiazide antihypertension drugs and iron supplements should also not be consumed in conjunction with milk.

Then the concern is that if you are taking these drugs, you should ask a doctor or pharmacist about the safe time gap between milk consumption and medicine.

Reporting from the Health page, here are some explanations why the drugs above should not be taken in conjunction with milk consumption:

Levothyroxine, is used to treat hypothyroidism, and must be taken when the stomach is empty. Please note, dairy products or calcium supplements can reduce the absorption of this drug. The FDA recommends waiting four hours after taking the drug before consuming dairy products.

Antibiotics are known to be effective against bacterial infections, but do not work for viruses such as flu. Many antibiotics interact negatively with calcium from milk, reducing its effectiveness. For this reason, give at least two hours a distance between antibiotics and dairy products.

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Iron supplements for anemia are best absorbed when the stomach is empty. However, if it causes stomach pain, it can be drunk with food, but avoid high calcium milk products. Give two hours of pause between iron consumption and milk.

Bisphosphonates (such as Actonel, Fosamax, Boniva) are used to strengthen bones in people with osteoporosis. Calcium from dairy products or other foods can reduce the absorption of this drug.

Instead, wait a few hours after taking this drug before consuming dairy products.

Lithium is used for bipolar disorder and can cause calcium buildup in the body if used in the long term. So it is important to discuss with doctors whether consumption of dairy products needs to be reduced or timed.

Dolutegravir, an antiretroviral for HIV/AIDS, can be consumed with calcium supplements if taken along with food.

However, without food, this drug must be charged two hours before or six hours after the dairy product to ensure its effectiveness.

If you take one of the drugs above, then you should consult with your healthcare provider about how to manage the time to consume your drugs and food.

In many cases, you can still enjoy dairy-based foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, but need to set the times right.

If you choose to take calcium supplements or multivitamins that contain calcium, discuss them first with your health service provider. They can provide specific recommendations according to your needs.

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