Taking medicine properly is crucial to ensure its effectiveness and avoid unintended side effects. While most people know to follow their doctor’s instructions, one common mistake is taking medication with hot water instead of cool or room temperature water. This seemingly harmless habit can actually interfere with how the medicine works. Here’s why:

1. Degradation of Active Ingredients

• Many medications contain active ingredients that can break down or lose potency when exposed to high temperatures. Hot water may accelerate the chemical degradation of these ingredients, reducing the effectiveness of the medicine and potentially leading to improper treatment.

2. Altered Drug Absorption

• Hot water can affect how quickly the medicine dissolves in your stomach. It may cause the medicine to dissolve too fast, leading to rapid absorption that your body isn’t ready for, potentially increasing the risk of side effects. Conversely, it could slow absorption, meaning the drug won’t work as quickly as needed.

3. Inactivation of Coatings

• Many tablets and capsules are coated to control how and where the drug is released in your body. Hot water can dissolve or damage these coatings, causing the medicine to release in the wrong part of the digestive system. This can result in irritation or reduced effectiveness.

4. Potential Side Effects

• Certain medications can become more irritating to your throat or stomach lining when taken with hot water. This could lead to discomfort or side effects like nausea, burning sensations, or even ulcers in more serious cases.

5. Drug Interaction with Hot Water

• Heat can interact with certain drug formulations, especially with liquid suspensions or syrups, which are more sensitive to temperature changes. Some antibiotics or vitamins may lose their therapeutic benefits if exposed to high heat, impacting their overall efficacy.

Best Practice: Use Cool or Room Temperature Water

• The safest way to take your medicine is with a glass of cool or room-temperature water. This ensures that the medicine works as intended, is absorbed properly by your body, and doesn’t lead to unwanted side effects. Always check the specific instructions for your medication, as some may have special requirements.
• Please ensure you always follow physician instructions or nurse or pharmacist instructions for taking medicines.