There is also a proper posture for taking medicine. If the posture is correct, the medicine can exert its efficacy. Otherwise, incorrect method of taking medicine can be fatal. Many people are unaware of this, so why can't you lie down when taking medicine? Let me explain it to you.
Why can't you lie down when taking medicine? This is because when lying down, the medicine is more likely to adhere to the esophageal wall, which not only affects the efficacy but also may irritate the esophagus, causing coughing or local inflammation. In severe cases, it may even damage the esophageal wall, posing a hidden risk of esophageal cancer. Therefore, it is best to remind customers to take medicine while standing or sitting.
There have been reports of patients developing esophageal ulcers due to incorrect posture when taking medicine. When taking oral tetracycline tablets, aspirin tablets or capsules without sufficient water, the retention time of the medication in the esophagus is often prolonged. This is particularly significant when taking the medicine while lying down or immediately lying down after taking it. Prolonged retention of medication in the esophagus increases the irritability of the medication to the digestive tract, which may induce ulcers and reduce the effectiveness of the medication.
Japanese scholars once conducted experiments using 400mg of Paracetamol tablets and 310mg of barium sulfate to study the retention time of tablets in the esophagus and the absorption of Paracetamol. Through X-ray photography, the location of the tablets in the esophagus was tracked. The results showed that for subjects who took the tablets while lying down or immediately lied down after taking them, the tablets remained in the esophagus for about 20-30 minutes, and some even lasted for up to 60 minutes before moving to the stomach. However, for subjects who took the tablets in an upright posture and drank sufficient water, the tablets immediately reached the stomach. The researchers also found significant differences in the blood concentration of Paracetamol among the subjects mentioned above.
Research also indicates that this effect is even more pronounced for sedatives and analgesics. To avoid the aforementioned disadvantages, when taking medication, whether it is for children or elderly patients, do not take medicine while lying down. Even bedridden patients should be propped up and take the medicine in a sitting or standing position, and lie down at least 10 minutes later.
