If you’ve been told to take your medication with food, you may be curious what counts. Is a couple crackers enough? Do I need to eat a full meal? Answers may vary depending on the type of medication you are taking.
In most cases you don’t need a full heavy meal. A glass of milk or piece of toast may be enough. But, the reason for needing food with your medication may be dictate what amount and type of food is the best option.
| Reason drug should be taken with food | Examples of drugs | Types of food or drinks to try |
|---|---|---|
| boosting absorption | • HIV medications • certain anti-fungals | A meal or snack with a bit of healthy fat, such as avocados, nuts, and cheese, may be more effective. |
| reducing digestive side effects | • antibiotics • NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen | A glass of milk or a snack that contains bland, low-fiber foods, such as crackers or bananas, can help create a protective barrier in the stomach. |
| managing insulin | diabetes medications, such as insulin | Right before or with a meal – this makes sure the drugs start working just as your blood sugar increases from the meal, which helps prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Some foods or drinks may interfere with medications:
- Grapefruit juice: Some medications interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Because of how this food works in your body, it can cause an increased risk of side effects of certain medications, such as statins.
- Dairy: Some drugs, such as the antibiotic doxycyline, can’t be taken with dairy products. This is because the dairy binds to the drug, preventing the body from absorbing the medication – which means it won’t work.
- Leafy greens: Some leafy greens, like spinach or kale, contain high amounts vitamin K. This vitamin interacts with warfarin (Coumadin), making the medication not work as well as it should.
- Acidic foods or drinks: If you are taking a medication with foods to help reduce digestive side effects, acidic foods or drinks may not be the best choice. Some drinks, like coffee, or foods that are spicy, sugary, or fatty may cause you to release more stomach acid which won’t help with lowering digestive side effects.
Quick tip: Screenshot this list to ask your doctor or pharmacist about whether you need to avoid certain foods or drinks with your medications.
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