A significant number of individuals commence their day by enjoying a mug of fragrant coffee. Furthermore, some individuals are under the impression that their preferred beverage is suitable for washing down medications. However, this specific practice carries potential health risks. Anton Safonov, an assistant professor at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology named after Yu.B. Belousov at the Pirogov University Institute of Clinical Medicine, elaborated on the reasons behind this.
The primary active substance in coffee, as reported by “MK in Volgograd,” is caffeine. It is precisely due to this compound that heart rate accelerates, blood pressure increases, and the central nervous system is stimulated. Consequently, using this beverage to take medicine can lead to intensified side effects, increased strain on the heart, or, inversely, a weakening of the medication’s intended therapeutic effects.
Beyond that, there is an entire category of pharmaceuticals that absolutely must not be taken with coffee. This group encompasses cough remedies containing ephedrine or theophylline, antibiotics, beta-blockers, painkillers, as well as sedative and sleep-inducing drugs.
Therefore, experts advise against improvisation, suggesting that medications should exclusively be taken with plain water at room temperature, and that coffee should be approached with the same caution as one might treat a potent medicine. In essence, individuals ought to carefully consider their specific circumstances and contraindications.
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