Janet Ogundepo
Medical experts have urged Nigerians to always use water when taking medications, describing it as the safest option that ensures drugs work effectively in the body.
The professionals warned that taking drugs with fizzy drinks, alcohol, or other beverages could interfere with how medications are absorbed and reduce their efficacy.
They emphasised that carbonated drinks should not be used as a substitute for water when taking medications.
The experts also linked poor drug-taking habits to treatment failure and drug resistance, and urged Nigerians to strictly follow their drug regimen.
Findings show that many Nigerians take their medications, especially those with unpleasant taste, with carbonated drinks.
It was also gathered that some dissolve medicines, such as paracetamol, into bottles and drinks and take them intermittently.
However, the experts, in earlier interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, maintained that water was the best liquid for taking oral medications.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, a Consultant Pharmacist and Managing Director of Merit Healthcare Limited, Lolu Ojo, said water remains the most suitable liquid for drug intake because it does not alter the composition of medications.
“Alcohol must never be taken with painkillers or any drug due to the potential exacerbation of unwanted effects. However, the best drink that the body accepts without issues is water and I will advise everybody to take their drugs with water,” he said.
Ojo explained that other drinks, including carbonated beverages, could affect how drugs dissolve and are released in the body, ultimately impacting their safety and effectiveness.
“Taking your drugs with any other drink could affect dissolution, release, efficacy and safety of the drug depending on the nature of the drink,” he added.
Corroborating this, a medical doctor, Olusina Ajidahun, noted that drugs are formulated to work within specific conditions in the body, including particular acidity levels.
He explained that taking medications with fizzy drinks could disrupt these conditions and reduce how well the drugs perform.
“When a drug is formulated, it has a measure of acidity and alkalinity, known as pH. When taken with drinks that are more acidic or alkaline, it can affect how the drug functions,” he said.
Ajidahun added that some beverages could also interfere with drug absorption, making them less effective or increasing the likelihood of side effects.
He warned that dissolving painkillers in carbonated drinks or taking excessive doses could pose health risks, including damage to vital organs such as the liver.
“It is best to take drugs with water. Various drugs also have specific instructions — some should be taken on an empty stomach, while others work better with certain foods. Taking them with fizzy drinks can distort how they act,” he said.
The physician further cautioned against mixing medications with alcohol, noting that it could lead to the release of harmful substances in the body.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
