Posted by Cam W. on November 1, 2001, at 22:45:32
In reply to Stomach Wants to Know: How LONG must I be empty? » houstongirl, posted by Rick on November 1, 2001, at 19:10:22
Rick - I guess the real answer would depend on the dissolution rate of the tablet and it's subsequent absorption rate into the body. I should clarify that when one swallows a medication, it is still "outside" of the body. The alimentary tract, the tube from your mouth to your anus, is technicall outside of your body. When the medication is broken down (in the stomach or intestines) it enters the body passively (through osmosis, via a concentration gradient) or actively (via a molecular transport system in the small intestine wall) through a process called absorption.
As a rule of thumb, most medications which are intended to be taken on an empty stomach, are to be taken:
"an hour before or two hours after a regular mealtime"
Close to a mealtime the body begins to prepare itself for the expected food (producing extra acid and digestive enzymes). The extra acid and enzymes at this time can inactivate &/or breakdown some molecules of medicine. Some drugs (eg tetracyline, for instance) can bind divalent cations (Ca2+, Al2+, etc.) into it's interior, preventing the absorption of that molecule, which is eliminated in the feces.
And you thought the answer was going to be simple. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:82868
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82937.html