Over the past month, helpful literature research was presented by John Hopkins University. They performed the drug absorption model with computerized tomography and reported that the medications were better absorbed when lying on their feet and lying right side when there was no gastroparesis.

From the water we drink to the lying down position, a lot of things affect the medication. A new study has found that body position determines how long it takes the pill to work. Yeditepe University Hospitals Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Cengiz Pata answered the questions about drug absorption. 

Why does our posture affect drug absorption?

The absorption of drugs also plays an important role in gastric contraction (motility) and emptying the stomach. Normally, the area of our stomach called the fundus is the place where food accumulates and folds when lying on the left, and stomach emptying is delayed. Again, diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus and Scleroderma slow down the motility of the stomach by forming the case, we call gastroparesis, the stomach is emptied late, and food and related drugs are also mixed with the blood late. In a person lying on the right, the passage of the stomach into the intestine will be accelerated, and the drugs in the content that passes into the small intestine will be absorbed quickly. Similarly, it accelerates absorption in our movement, and the drugs and foods taken while we are standing will be absorbed quickly as the stomach motility will be fast. In other words, the faster the stomach motility and emptying, the faster the absorption of the small intestine will be. As a result, after taking our medicines, we should move, and take them in an upright position. If it is to be laid down, it will be appropriate to lie down on the right.

Is the complete dissolution time of the pill directly proportional to the duration of action? (For example, we took a painkiller and slept on the left side. Will it cease the pain in 100 minutes?

The way the drugs are taken is also extremely important for absorption. The drugs can be liquid, granular, powder, granular, capsule, or tablet. The size of the drug molecule, and its ability to dissolve in water or fat, acidic or basic affect drug absorption.

Especially people who cannot swallow capsule pills. They take it out of the capsule and drink the powder, but is it healthy or does it reduce the effect of the pill?

The form of the drug is formed according to the properties of the active ingredient of the drug. For example, basic drugs to be destroyed in an acidic environment are wrapped with capsules to ensure that they pass unaffected by the stomach, or drugs that are affected by stomach acid and need to be absorbed from the pre-metabolite are prepared in the form of tablets. Therefore, we should drink our medicines as they are.

How to swallow the pill in the best way? Only with water or with other liquids?

The liquid is also important. For example, when the antibiotic we call tetracycline is taken together with milk, it cannot bind to milk proteins and be absorbed. Water is a neutral and protein-free liquid and is ideal. Similarly, some penicillin and tuberculosis medications cannot be absorbed with food and should be taken on an empty stomach.  

What can swallowing a pill without water cause? Can it block the esophagus?

An important point is that drugs should be drunk with plenty of water. Plenty of water will prevent kidney damage. More importantly, we know that some drugs adhere to the gastrointestinal tract and cause mucosal damage and ulcers by adhering to ulcers (tetracycline, azithromycin in the esophagus, aspirin, painkillers in the stomach.). These types of medications should be taken with plenty of water to prevent them from sticking to the esophagus. In order to reduce the effect on the stomach, it should be taken hungry. As you can see, your doctor's warnings about how to take your medicines are extremely important and should be followed.