Medication On Empty Stomach

[Bazile]

How do you know if your stomach is empty ?

[Eleena]

Hi Bazile, if you haven't ate in a few hours, I'd probably have a couple of pieces of toast or something before medication.

[Mamyalynne]

Just common sense, if it needs to be taken on an empty stomach then wait a few hours after eating.

[Bazile]

But it says 'on an empty stomach'

[Mamyalynne]

Just wait a while after eating, or take on waking.

[Eleena]

Ah sorry Bazile, you meant the oposite, yes as mamya has said.

[bhg481]

My wife has just been given some antibiotics that require an empty stomach. The leaflet says 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

[bainbrig]

Is there mush room inside?

[Bazile]

Does drinks/ some drinks , come into the equation ?

[bhg481]

When you eat, your stomach produces very strong acid as part of the digestive process; this will probably kill the antibiotics. I suspect a small amount of liquid to help swallow the tablets would be OK.

[Mamyalynne]

Bazile without knowing what the medication is I suggest you check with the prescriber or pharmacist if it is causing such worry.

[Sqad]

What a good question.....you don't.
However gastric emptying is usually...usually..2 hours after eating.....so that is a good starting point.

Don't go over the top with this........just take your tablets 2 hours after a meal with water.

[Bazile]

In this context , does drinks count as a meal

Eg if I ate ,say at 2000hrs , while I'm waiting for the two hours to pass to take medication - can I consume drinks - eg tea ,juice etc ?

[Sqad]

I would........even the "etc".....;-)

[Bazile]

Thanks sqad (-:

[Bazile]

By the way ,it's antibiotic

[Mamyalynne]

The advice will remain the same Bazile.

[bhg481]

As an extension to this, as I said earlier my wife is on antibiotics and tomorrow she is booked in for a shingles vaccination. She she postpone?

[Sqad]

bhg....no need to postpone......your wife should be fine.

[bhg481]

Thanks for that sqad - we just didn't want to waste the nurse's time and deprive someone else of the appointment.