How to take pills: I have a pill that says to take on an empty stomach. It doesn't say how long since I last ate my stomach would be considered empty and it does not tell how long I...

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I have a pill that says to take on an empty stomach. It doesn't say how long since I last ate my stomach would be considered empty and it does not tell how long I must wait after taking the pill before I can eat! Why can't instructions be a little more precise?

Doyle Thomas Loc: Vancouver Washington ~ USA

The Mighty Pill

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

For taking meds on an "empty stomach", I found a "rule of thumb" as 2 hours (minimum) after one eats.
Since medicines start having their effect about 20 minutes (or less) after taking,
I would wait about 1/2 hour before eating.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Longshadow wrote:

For taking meds on an "empty stomach", I found a "rule of thumb" as 2 hours (minimum) after one eats.
Since medicines start having their effect about 20 minutes (or less) after taking,
I would wait about 1/2 hour before eating.

Generally, if a medication is to be taken on an empty stomach, the rule is one hour before or two hours after eating.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

Generally, if a medication is to be taken on an empty stomach, the rule is one hour before or two hours after eating.

That works too.

twowindsbear

Bridges wrote:

I have a pill that says to take on an empty stomach. It doesn't say how long since I last ate my stomach would be considered empty and it does not tell how long I must wait after taking the pill before I can eat! Why can't instructions be a little more precise?

Maybe direct this question to your pharmacist??

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

for most people it is about 2 to 3 hours since you ate

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I have this site bookmarked for detailed info on drugs: Medication Guides
Enter the drug name in the search box - select the correct version from the list and see if the details you are looking for are there...

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

Bridges wrote:

I have a pill that says to take on an empty stomach. It doesn't say how long since I last ate my stomach would be considered empty and it does not tell how long I must wait after taking the pill before I can eat! Why can't instructions be a little more precise?

I am not qualified to give medical advice but I will pass along what I was told about 2, of my many pills. In both cases I now take them in the morning and for 1 my doctor (that prescribed the pill) said to take it 1st thing in the morning and wait about 30 minutes before eating. The other pill I had been taking in the evening and a nurse, reviewing my meds before a procedure, said the same thing as the doctor. She further said it was OK to take these 2 along with other morning pills.

If you don’t take yours in the morning… you may need different advice.

If I have questions like that, I call my family doctors office… he will never get on the phone but his staff relays the question and returns his answer to me.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

So you have to swallow it dry?

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

My empty stomach pills are specific: one hour before or two hours after a meal. I asked my doc about light snacks, and he said they are ok if very little.

BigOldArt Loc: Seminole, FL

Bridges wrote:

I have a pill that says to take on an empty stomach. It doesn't say how long since I last ate my stomach would be considered empty and it does not tell how long I must wait after taking the pill before I can eat! Why can't instructions be a little more precise?

The response most likely varies depending on the medication and formulation specifics such as extended release, enteric coating, etc.

As the pharmacist who filled the prescription. That is his/her discipline.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

DirtFarmer wrote:

So you have to swallow it dry?

I was a Navy Corpsman for four years and then a physician assistant for 25 years. Medications may be taken with a sufficient amount of water to swallow them comfortably and that mostly will not affect procedures such as blood tests. If the medication will affect a procedure or test your practitioner will advise you when the tet or procedure is ordered. As example, stopping blood thinners before a surgical procedure. Several have stated it before, if in doubt, check with your care giver, nurse, PA, NP physician, or pharmacist.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

twowindsbear wrote:

Maybe direct this question to your pharmacist??

Hey!
What…..Wait…..

I resemble that remark!

I have been a Pharmacist for thirty one years. Rarely, I get asked a question when someone picks up their prescription. It is occasionally asked what the directions mean. Doctors will sometimes explain the medication. But, they are so rushed, they have a nurse or secretary send the prescription.

I don’t charge any fee as it is part of my job. But I actually enjoy explaining to patients how to use their inhaler, glucometer, syringe, etc. Yes, I work a full 8 hours and more and it takes a few minutes to explain stuff.