It’s fairly clear what “take with food” means – not
withstanding the details of how much, what types, etc. Much less clear is the
instruction “take on an empty stomach.”
In short, “take on an empty stomach” means having nothing to
eat for at least two hours before taking the medicine and then not eating for
at least thirty minutes. The medication should be taken with a full glass of
water (not juice or coffee). Two examples of medications that should be taken
on an empty stomach are thyroid supplements and stomach acid blockers. Most
people take these medications upon awakening; by the time they have finished
washing and brushing a half hour has passed. Others are too rushed in the
morning – taking the medication before bed is fine as long as there has not
been any after-dinner snacking.
When in doubt, consult with the pharmacist. And while you
are asking: are there any medications that should be taken at different times?
It’s tempting to just swallow a handful of pills all at once but there could be
interactions.
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