Can I still have a glass of wine when I’m taking meds?
Drinking alcohol when you don’t take meds changes things in your body—there’s the buzz factor, drowsiness, possible hangovers, changes in your blood sugar, and more. Drinking alcohol will increase the instance of side effects with certain meds. For example, you could become very drowsy if you sip wine and take allergy meds. Tyramine, a component found in many alcoholic beverages as a result of the fermentation process, can cause a sudden, unsafe increase in your blood pressure if you’re taking meds such as antibiotics, antipsychotics, antifungals, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). “In cases of some antibiotics and antifungals, alcohol intake can also cause nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, flushing, and headaches,” says Dr. Allen.
I threw up. Should I take another dose or wait?
When did you take the meds? “If you vomit within 15 minutes of taking your medication, you should definitely take another dose, because it likely hasn’t been digested,” recommends Dr. Allen. If it has been more than an hour or two, your meds have probably already passed your stomach, so you can wait till your next dose is due. However, you should call your doctor if you’re not sure, because the risk of missing a dose may trump the risk of having additional medicine in your bloodstream. (If your meds are giving you tummy trouble, you may want to try these home remedies to help soothe your stomach.)
How long will it take for me to feel the effects?
When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, you want relief fast but feeling better may take longer, depending on your condition and the medication. Some meds travel straight from your digestive systems to your bloodstream while others have to get through the liver first. “Medication will typically reach your bloodstream no later than eight hours after you’ve ingested it, but in some cases, it will reach peak levels in your blood after only 30 minutes,” says Dr. Allen. If you’re taking a time-release med, these are designed to dissolve slowly and give your body stable levels of the meds throughout the day. “You should begin to feel effects from the medication within the first six to eight hours, but it might take sustained ingestion to make a significant difference in your condition.”
