When treating diseases, oral administration is the most common method. There are various forms of oral medications, and the amount of water needed for administration varies.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoctions: 150-200 milliliters of water
Decoctions, as the name suggests, are medicinal preparations that are meant to be drunk. So, how much water is appropriate for preparing decoctions? First of all, we need to understand the origin of decoctions. Traditional Chinese Medicine decoctions are developed based on the preparation of herbal soups. When brewed, each dose of Chinese medicine is brewed twice, with 150-200 milliliters each time, and the two portions are combined and taken in two administrations. Therefore, when consuming Chinese medicine decoctions, 150 milliliters of water is sufficient. For example, for Ganmao Qingre Keli (a Chinese herbal remedy for relieving cold symptoms), it is recommended to dissolve it in 150-200 milliliters of hot water, and then rinse the mouth with a sip of water. However, this does not apply to Western medicine powders. For example, Montmorillonite powder (Smecta) only requires 50 milliliters of water for administration.
Capsules: at least 300 milliliters of water
For most oral dosage forms, such as tablets, usually 150-200 milliliters of water is sufficient for administration. Using too much water can dilute gastric acid, accelerate gastric emptying, and hinder drug absorption.
Capsules are used to encapsulate medications for the purpose of protecting the drugs, masking unpleasant odors, altering dissolution speed or dissolution location. However, capsules are made of gelatin and become soft and sticky when in contact with water. After ingestion, they can adhere to the esophageal wall, causing damage or even ulcers. Therefore, when taking capsules, it is necessary to drink more water to ensure that the medication is properly delivered to the stomach. Therefore, the amount of water consumed should be no less than 300 milliliters. Additionally, when swallowing, slightly tilting the head forward can help the capsules go down more smoothly.
Special medications require larger amounts of water
In addition, some medications that irritate the gastrointestinal tract, such as tetracycline drugs, regardless of their dosage form, require increased water intake during administration to reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Some medications also have unique metabolic processes and require increased water intake during use. For example, sulfonamide drugs and quinolone drugs have a tendency to crystallize in urine during metabolism, which can damage the urinary system. Therefore, it is necessary to drink a large amount of water during medication use, or to simultaneously take medications that alkalize the urine, such as sodium bicarbonate.
