Certain medications have to be taken after a meal. As a homecare RN case manager, I recall clients sitting at the breakfast table, taking their medications with coffee. The caffeine in coffee affects how your body absorbs food and drugs. There are common prescribed medications that are affected by the caffeine in coffee. Let’s discuss a few.
Anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, prevent blood from clotting. Warfarin and heparin are commonly used blood thinners. Caffeine increases the concentration of blood thinner medications, increasing their effectiveness. Drinking coffee with these medications could lead to bleeding.
Medications taken for depression, or antidepressants, are used to treat depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions. Drinking a lot of coffee when taking these medications may reduce their effect. Some meds that are affected by coffee include Luvox, Lexapro, Amitril, and Tofranil. Drinking coffee with Luvox can increase heart palpitations and trouble sleeping.
Antipsychotic medications are used to treat major depressive and psychotic disorders. Drinking coffee with these medications reduces their effectiveness. Abilify, Compro, Haldol, and Orap are examples of antipsychotic medications.
Those of you who take medications to treat asthma, known as bronchodilators, should take caution when drinking coffee. The side effects of bronchodilators are restlessness, racing heart, headache, and irritability. Caffeine can increase the side effects and reduce the amount of medication your lungs absorb. If you need to use a bronchodilator, avoid drinking coffee.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common medical condition in the United States. Untreated high blood pressure could lead to heart attacks and strokes. Inderal and Lopressor, two medications used to treat high blood pressure, lower your heart rate and reduce the strain on your heart. Drinking coffee at the time you take these medications causes the body to absorb less of the drug.
Caffeine seriously affects medications for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s medications like Aricept work directly on the brain to protect the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Coffee lessens the effectiveness of these medications. Caffeine decreases the amount of medication that reaches the brain.
Cold and allergy medications that are taken regularly, could affect the nervous system. If they contain pseudoephedrine, a stimulant, they have many of the same side effects as caffeine. Caffeine could increase symptoms of restlessness, heart palpitations, and trouble sleeping. Do not drink coffee when taking Sudafed or Allegra.
Caffeine can increase diabetic symptoms and interfere with sugar levels. Drinking a lot of coffee can raise your insulin and blood sugar levels. This would make managing your diabetes more difficult.
Methotrexate, an immunosuppressant used in chemotherapy, is affected by caffeine. Drinking coffee affects how the body absorbs the drug. This could result in higher levels in the bloodstream.
Osteoporosis is a condition that happens when your bones lose density and mass. Becoming fragile and thin. Drinking coffee with these drugs decreases their effectiveness. Medications like Actonel and Boniva strengthen and reduce fracture risk. Most health care providers recommend taking these drugs with water only.
Drugs that treat bacterial infections, quinolone antibiotics, are affected by caffeine. Drugs like Ciprofloxacin, when taken with coffee, increase the side effects of caffeine. Restlessness, heart palpitations, and nervousness are possible. Do not drink coffee while taking this antibiotic.
Thyroid medications regulate the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. People with hypothyroidism have low levels of the hormone due to their gland not producing enough. Drinking coffee with Synthroid, a hormone medication, reduces the effectiveness of the drug. Caffeine lowers the body’s ability to absorb Synthroid by half.
If you are taking any medication, consult with your pharmacist regarding the side effects of caffeine and your medication. When it comes to the knowledge of medications and side effects, the pharmacist is the best authority.
I also encourage you to know the name of your medication, why you are taking it, and the side effects.
Until next time,
Peace, Love, and Blessings ❤️
