How Your Morning Coffee Could be Interfering with Your Medication

For many of us, our day doesn’t truly begin until we’ve had that first cup of coffee. It wakes us up, gets our digestion going, and is a vital part of our morning routine. However, it’s crucial to be aware that your morning joe could potentially interact with the medications you’re taking. Coffee can impact the absorption of certain medications in your body, so it’s important to know which ones might be affected.

How Coffee Works in the Stomach

When you drink coffee, the caffeine in it stimulates your stomach and can alter how quickly food moves through your digestive system. This stimulation also affects how your body digests and absorbs medications, influencing their effectiveness. Here are ten medications that can be negatively impacted by drinking coffee simultaneously. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication routine:

1. Thyroid Medicine: Coffee can reduce the absorption of thyroid medications by more than half.
2. Cold or Allergy Medication: Stimulants in some allergy medications can be overstimulating when combined with coffee.
3. Diabetes Medication: Coffee with sugar can spike blood sugar levels and impact diabetes medication.
4. Alzheimer’s Medicine: Coffee can decrease the effectiveness of medications for Alzheimer’s by tightening the blood-brain barrier.
5. Asthma Medication: Caffeine can increase side effects and reduce absorption of asthma medications.
6. Osteoporosis Medication: Coffee can reduce the effectiveness of osteoporosis medications by more than half.
7. Antidepressants: Coffee can reduce absorption of certain antidepressants and increase side effects.
8. Antipsychotic Medicine: Coffee can reduce absorption of antipsychotic medications.
9. Blood Pressure Medicine: Coffee can block absorption of blood pressure medications, making them less effective.
10. Melatonin: Caffeine can inhibit melatonin production, making it less effective when taken with coffee.

It’s essential to consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication routine to avoid any potential interactions with coffee. By staying informed and taking the proper precautions, you can enjoy your morning coffee without unwanted side effects.

Use the Caffeine Interaction Checker from Drugs.com to see if a medication has a potential interaction with coffee and caffeine.