BBC doctor isues new warning on aspirin levothyroxine | UK News

A BBC doctor has issued a stark warning to anybody taking aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, metformin and lithium, stressing that the timing of when you’re taking these medicines is completely essential. Appearing on BBC Morning Live, Dr Kasim Ahmed explained that sure drugs can set off critical abdomen issues if not taken accurately.

Host Gethin Jones requested: “What are the medications that shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach then to start with?” Dr Ahmed said: “So these are big ones that you need to make sure you’ve had something to eat beforehand. The biggest ones are things like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. So those are things like ibuprofen, naproxen, which are notorious for causing issues with gastric acid, potentially causing stomach ulcers, which can be really, really dangerous.

“On top of that issues like steroids which again elevated acid manufacturing in the abdomen. Aspirin works in a related manner.”

The doctor also named other common drugs: “Some of the NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. So that must be on a full abdomen as properly. So all of those issues really need to have one thing to eat at the same time. And the other factor is making sure your diabetic drugs. So, for two causes, with diabetic drugs, some of them drop your blood sugar.

“So actually you want to have some blood sugar, something there, so you’re absorbing some sugar. But some of them like metformin, which is probably the most common medication for diabetes, can cause gastrointestinal side effects. So it can cause nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting if it’s taken on an empty stomach. So you want to make sure you’ve had something to eat at the same time.”

Conversely, sure drugs must be taken on an empty abdomen, as consuming food alongside them prevents the physique from absorbing them successfully. Dr Ahmed said: “These are really important because the number of people I see on huge whacking doses of some of these medications because they’re taking them with food. So, that they’re not being absorbed properly is really apparent.

“So, leothyroxine, I believe, is the big one. So, thyroid medication, if you have received an autoimmune thyroid condition, you could have levothyroxine as a thyroid substitute, and that wants to be taken on an empty abdomen. So, the explanation for that is it is absorbed actually rapidly in the abdomen but can get combined up in food fairly rapidly and then cross through the abdomen and not be absorbed.”

Ramadan advice

Regarding religious observances such as Ramadan and Lent, where fasting is practised, he advised people should snack on the right things, such as nuts, salads and smaller meals.

He said: ” Going back to Ramadan, having a suppose about when you take your drugs for that’s actually important. So, if it is an empty abdomen medication, take it first factor with the pre-dawn meal or on a full abdomen if you possibly can take one thing either after the pre-dawn meal or after you have damaged your fast in the night. But the big factor right here is admittedly having a chat to your to your medical professionals.”