The therapist warned about the dangers of combining coffee and medications

Coffee can affect the effect of medications and cause undesirable reactions even in the absence of direct contraindications. On May 7, Nazifat Urtenova, a general practitioner at the SM Clinic, told Izvestia about which drugs the drink is particularly dangerous with.

According to the expert, even if the instructions for the drug do not explicitly prohibit the combination with coffee, this does not always mean safety. The drink can change the rate of elimination of active substances, enhance side effects or reduce the effectiveness of treatment.

In particular, antibiotics from the group of fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, slow down the elimination of caffeine. As a result, its concentration in the body increases, which can be manifested by insomnia, anxiety and tremor. In the case of tetracyclines, the situation is different: coffee interferes with the full absorption of the drug in the stomach, reducing its effectiveness.

The doctor paid special attention to the combination of coffee with hormonal contraceptives. Estrogens slow down the metabolism of caffeine, which causes it to accumulate in the body and can cause headaches, irritability, and sleep disorders.

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"The combined use of painkillers and antipyretics is also dangerous. So, caffeine can increase the load on the liver when taking paracetamol, increasing the risk of toxic damage. And ibuprofen and aspirin combined with coffee increases stomach irritation, which can lead to pain, heartburn, and ulcers," Urtenova emphasized.

According to the doctor, caution should be exercised when combining coffee with drugs that affect the nervous system. For example, monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as moclobemide and selegiline, in combination with caffeine, can cause a sharp rise in blood pressure. When taking tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline, the excitatory effect increases, which increases the risk of anxiety and insomnia.

Another important point is related to iron preparations. Caffeine and the tannins contained in the drink worsen its absorption in the intestine, which is why the effectiveness of therapy may decrease, especially if you drink coffee immediately after taking the medicine.

As the doctor noted, coffee also affects carbohydrate metabolism: it can increase blood glucose levels and reduce insulin sensitivity. Therefore, when taking sugar-lowering drugs, including metformin, sugar fluctuations and decreased treatment effectiveness are possible.

Neuropsychologist, family and child psychologist Maria Todorova said on April 27 that coffee is not a medicinal product, but acts as a food stimulant with an individual effect on the body.