Morning coffee can be a “ritual” for many people. It is comforting, energizing and one of the most consumed drinks in the world, but it can interact with certain drugs, which can reduce their efficiency or increase the risk of side effects.
Coffee can interact with certain photo drugs: Shuterstock
Experts call a few drugs that should not be combined with coffee, according to The Conversation.
1.
Caffeine is an incentive, which means it accelerates the central nervous system. PseudoEfedrina, a decongestant found in cold and flu remedies, such as SudaFed, is also an incentive. When taken together, the effects can be amplified, which can lead to nervousness or agitation, headaches, accelerated heart rate and insomnia.
Many colds for colds already contain added caffeine, increasing these risks even more. Some studies also suggest that caffeine associated with pseudoephedrine may increase blood sugar and body temperature.
Stimulant effects are also a cause for concern when combining caffeine with ADHD drugs, such as amphetamines, or with asthma drugs, such as theophylline, which has a chemical structure similar to caffeine. Their use together can increase the risk of side effects, such as fast heartbeat and sleep disruption.
2. Thyroid drugs
Levothyroxine, standard treatment for a subactive thyroid, can be affected by morning coffee. Specifically, coffee too early after levothyroxine administration can reduce its absorption by up to 50%.
If absorption is affected, the symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue, weight gain and constipation, can return, even if you take the correct medicine.
3. Antidepressants and antipsychotics
The interaction between caffeine and mental health drugs can be more complex.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as sertraline and citalopram, are a type of antidepressant drugs widely used to treat depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. Laboratory studies suggest that caffeine can bind to these drugs in the stomach, reducing absorption and potential by making them less effective.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), such as Amitriptyline and Imipramine, are an older antidepressants that act by affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
4. analgesics
Some analgesics without prescription, such as those containing aspirin or paracetamol, include the addition of caffeine. Coffee can accelerate the speed with which these drugs are absorbed by accelerating the speed with which the stomach is empty and making the stomach more acidic, which improves absorption for some drugs, such as aspirin.
Although this can help analgesics act faster, it may also increase the risk of side effects, such as irritation or bleeding, especially when combined with other caffeine sources. Although no serious cases have been reported, caution is recommended.
5. Medicines for the heart
Caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure and heart rate, usually lasting three to four hours after consumption. For people taking blood pressure or drugs that control irregular heart rate (arrhythmias), this can counteract the desired effects of drugs.
This does not mean that people with heart disease should completely avoid coffee, but they should monitor how it affects their symptoms and consider limiting consumption or switching to decaffeinated coffee if necessary.
