Is it OK to take medicines with soft drinks, coffee, milk or juices?

Are you taking your medicines with coffee or juice? Read this

How many times have you used a soft drink or other beverage to take your medicines? It s a common practice to just pick up whatever drink is available while taking medicines. Some even do it to kill the bitter taste of the tablets. How safe is it? Do these beverages cause any drug interactions? We asked Dr Rajni Pathak, Co-ordinator Preventive Health Check, Fortis Hospital Mohali to shed some light on this topic and here s what she has to say:

Soft drinks or aerated beverages are carbonated. Most of them are acidic in nature too. They are capable of decreasing the antibacterial action of most medicines. The carbonated drinks when combined with certain medicines can lead to allergies or adverse effects in some patients. Hence, soft drinks should be avoided completely. Soft drinks also restrict the absorption of iron. So if you are taking iron supplements or medicines with iron then consuming them with soft drinks is not a good idea.

Juices and other drinks can also reduce the effect of drugs on your body thereby making them ineffective and slowing down the recovery process. Of all the juices, grape juice must be avoided the most while taking prescription pills as the furanocoumarins present in the juice inhibits the absorption of the drugs and can lead to adverse effects.

As for tea and coffee, the tannins in the beverages reduces the digestion of the medication. Few medicines like calcium or Vitamin D supplements are advised to be taken with milk. Read: Are you drinking enough water with your medicines?

If you do not make it a habit to consume medicines with other beverages, and it is one odd instance when you do not have water with you, there is no harm. There aren t adverse effects of consuming medicines with juices or coffee or milk but it is best avoided. Water remains the best beverage to take medicines with.

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