Tips Tips for taking medications during the holy month of Ramadan

Arab Weather - Dealing with medicines in Ramadan is one of the issues that most concern patients when the holy month comes, especially if the number of doses of these medicines is two or more times, or if the medicines need to be taken before food or at a certain time of the day, and this is what These patients are confused about the effect of fasting on the effectiveness of these drugs.

Some people search for alternative solutions with doctors and pharmacists to regulate the times of taking medicines in Ramadan and maintain their effectiveness during their fasting days, but sometimes patients, unfortunately and due to the lack of health awareness, change the frequency of medicines and the dates of taking them without medical advice, which leads them to errors that may cause them health problems.

In the article, learn about common mistakes in taking medicines in Ramadan and the correct ways to take them, in addition to answering common questions such as whether an injection breaks the fast in Ramadan.

The most prominent mistakes in taking medicine in Ramadan

During their fasting days, patients may make many mistakes that must be avoided when taking medicines during Ramadan, the most prominent of which are:

Double the doses of medicines in Ramadan

Some people take one double dose of medication in Ramadan instead of two daily doses as they used to take it before Ramadan, or two double doses twice a day instead of three or four doses he used to take before Ramadan, and this in itself is a big mistake because doubling the dose may have a toxic effect from On the one hand, on the other hand, each drug has a specific lifespan that ends within a certain time even if the dose is doubled.

For example, if a drug with a dose of 500 mg is taken every 12 hours, then this means that the life of the drug is 12 hours, and if the dose is doubled to 1000 mg per dose, then the effect of the drug’s dose will also end after 12 hours, and thus the effect of the drug will not be covered during the remaining 12 hours, In addition to the potential for toxicity due to this double dose.

Take medications after food

Some patients take certain medicines before food during the days leading up to the month of Ramadan and then change the time to take them to after breakfast in Ramadan, and this may reduce their absorption and effectiveness, especially if the medicine interferes with certain foods.

Take several medicines together

Some patients who take several medicines at separate intervals before Ramadan collect these medicines in the Iftar and Sahrdon periods, bearing in mind that these medicines may interfere or interact with each other if taken at the same time, if they can reduce the effectiveness of some of them or increase the potential side effects on the digestive system Due to be taken concurrently.

Reducing the time between drug doses

Some medicines are classified as medicines with a narrow margin of safety. That is, a slight increase in the dose may have toxic damage to the body, such as theophylline drug and its derivatives used as bronchodilators, so reducing the time interval between doses of these drugs increases its concentration in the blood, and thus the possibility of toxicity for these drugs increases during Ramadan. .

For example, if the interval between taking two doses of medicine before Ramadan is 12 hours, then it becomes eight hours or less after Ramadan, by virtue of the fact that the time for taking the two doses becomes linked to the time of Iftar and Suhoor only.

Organizing the correct intake of medicines during Ramadan

Patients in general, especially those with chronic diseases and those who take medications constantly, should consult a doctor to determine for them a system for taking medicines during Ramadan and divide their doses so that their therapeutic efficacy is not affected.

In general, the correct ways to take medicines during Ramadan can be summarized as follows:

• Medicines that are taken once (every 24 hours) do not get any change, for example some medicines for high pressure, such as Amlodipine.
• Medicines that are taken twice a day (every 12 hours). The possibility of administering the medicine at the pre-dawn meal and breakfast is being studied, provided it does not cause toxicity.
• Medicines with a narrow margin of safety, such as theophylline, which are bronchodilators, which lead to toxicity resulting from the reduction of the time between the two doses, can overcome their risks by using the extended-release form of the drug in a single dose per day or substituting the drug for another drug that is taken once a day, such as salmeterol.
• Medicines that are taken in more than two doses per day, can be replaced by other medicines of the same group and have the same effectiveness taken once.
• Replacing the oral administration of some medicines that must be repeated by administering others that do not lead to breakfast, for example the analgesic paracetamol tablets that can be replaced by suppositories or injections.
• Medicines that are preferred to be taken before meals, such as stomach acid medicines, can be taken half an hour before the pre-dawn meal or two hours after breakfast.
• It should be noted that the distribution of medicines during the Iftar and Suhoor periods must be under the supervision of the doctor for patients who are taking several medications, such as blood pressure and heart medicines, so that possible interactions between the sacrifices in Ramadan are taken into consideration.

The antibiotic in Ramadan

The dose of antibiotics is usually between two to three times a day, and the times for taking them in Ramadan can be regulated as follows:

The antagonist is taken every 12 hours in Ramadan at breakfast and the pre-dawn meal, provided it does not cause toxicity, such as cefadroxil and cefaclor.

Antibiotics that are taken multiple times during the day, such as erythromycin, can be substituted by others taken once a day, such as azithromycin or twice daily, such as clarithromycin.

It is recommended that the pharmacist be consulted when taking antibiotics in Ramadan, in order to adjust the doses if necessary, to replace the medicine, or to take instructions about when to take doses.

What are the medicines that do not break the fast in Ramadan?

Many questions are common about some medications or methods of drug delivery whether they break the fast, such as putting eye drops in Ramadan, using drops or sprays in the nose, or putting medicated creams and ointments, or whether needles break the fast in Ramadan.

In the following paragraph, we mention the most important medicines that can be taken while fasting without affecting your fast, which are:

• Eye, ear, and nasal drops and nasal spray.
• Topical medicated creams, ointments and patches.
• Vaginal or rectal suppositories.
• Intravenous, skin, or intramuscular injections.
• Oxygen and anesthetic gas.
• Inhaler device.
• Nitroglycerin, which is placed under the tongue.
• Mouthwash as long as it is not swallowed.
• Urgent surgeries in case of general anesthesia.

Medicines that break the fast in Ramadan

Medicines that break the fast during Ramadan include:

• Oral medications that enter the cavity, such as pills, tablets, liquid medicines, or in the form of syrups.
• Intravenous injection of nutrients breaks down.
• Medicines for patients with chronic diseases in Ramadan

Patients with chronic diseases should see a doctor before the month of Ramadan to adjust medications and their dosages, if necessary. In the following, we mention general guidelines for dealing with some types of chronic medicines during Ramadan:

Medicines for blood pressure in Ramadan

Some blood pressure medications are taken on an empty stomach, such as beta blockers, including bisoprolol and metoprolol, and diuretics are taken with breakfast or two hours later.

It is advised to avoid some foods that interfere with stress medications, such as ginger and garlic, which interact with calcium channel inhibitors, such as amlodipine.

Diabetes medicine in Ramadan

Diabetics must measure their blood sugar frequently during the day in the month of Ramadan and deal directly with cases of hypoglycemia by breaking the fast and taking appropriate treatment.

Diabetics are advised to carry glucose medication when going out of the house or going for Tarawih prayers.

It is advised to review the doctor to adjust the insulin doses and injection times or the type of insulin the patient is taking, as some types, such as pre-mixed insulin, are not preferred for use during Ramadan.

Blood thinners medicines in Ramadan

Blood thinners, such as warfarin are classified under a narrow safety margin, so doses must be adhered to exactly as prescribed by your doctor to avoid bleeding or blood clots.

Blood thinners are taken with breakfast or the pre-dawn meal, or both if the dose is to be repeated twice, after consulting a doctor.

Epilepsy drugs in Ramadan

Epilepsy drugs are usually taken once a day, and can be taken at breakfast or suhoor.

Fasting must be broken immediately if a patient has a seizure.

Asthma medication in Ramadan

An asthma patient should use an asthma spray when an attack occurs, even if it is before the time of Iftar and the sunset prayer.

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