Make sure to take plenty of water with your medicine.

 

Do you know how much water or other fluid should be taken with medicines that are swallowed? For some medicines, a small sip may not be enough. The amount and type of fluid that is best for you will depend on the properties of your medicine and on the particular diseases or conditions that you have.

Taking a lot of medications without drinking enough water could put a strain on your kidneys, whose job it is to remove waste from the blood. Water helps to flush out these wastes (another plus is that it can lower your chances of getting kidney stones and infections).

For instance, if you take over-the-counter or prescription painkillers containing ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), it’s advisable to wash them down with a large glass of water to help eliminate the drug from your kidneys.

Water helps medicine pass from your mouth to your stomach and small intestine and to be absorbed to give the desired action. Swallowing medicines without enough water may prevent the medicine from acting properly and may even lead to undesired side effects in some cases. One example is the class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). Some commonly used NSAIDs are acetylsalicylic acid (also called ASA or Aspirin), ibuprofen, and naproxen. Taking NSAIDs without enough liquid or taking them on an empty stomach can increase your chances of experiencing irritation of the esophagus or stomach or even ulcers. Another example is a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which are used to treat or prevent osteoporosis. These medicines are usually taken on an empty stomach. To reduce your risk of experiencing irritation of the esophagus, it's important to take these medicines with plenty of water, and to avoid lying down for at least half an hour after taking them.

The amount of water needed can also depend on the dosage form. For example, you may need to swallow more water with a large tablet or capsule than with a small tablet or a liquid medicine. Always carefully read the label of your medicine and any information that comes with it. Find out how much water you need to take with your medicine. The right amount of water for you will depend on which medicines you are taking and the medical conditions that you have. If you are not sure how much water you should drink, ask your pharmacist or other healthcare provider.

When taking water with medicine make sure you are drinking filtered water to avoid adding any unwanted contaminants to your medicine. Eagle Industries Corp has been helping customers purify and filter their drinking water for many years. We have hundreds of satisfied customers across the Halton and Peel regions in Southern Ontario. Give us a call today and we will be glad to do a complimentary water quality analysis on your drinking water. Call 1-866-222-9308 today.