Yes, it does increase the effects of opiates. But anti-histamines work better.

funny, but my meds work best when I est. I thought it was odd, as it would seem they are less diluted when noting in stomach. But when I take one on am empty stomach, it burns and I am irritable. Well, Nasty would probably be a better word. So always best for me to eat something!

Also, for some reason, I have hot flashes. Anyone else?

I agree...I always take pain meds with food in my stomach. I would be sick without food first. I generally eat alot of carbs beforehand to coat my stomach. It is worse with codeine based products (when I have had them in the past) with regards to stomach upset, hydro is not as bad for me.

Claire

I always felt the stomach acids required to digest food would destroy the active ingredients. the meds seem almost wasted when I take with food. if they ever do kick in, it's weak and late.

The meds that are affected my hydrochloric acid tend to be produced in gastro-resistant form. Stomach acid tends to reach a peak at around the time of 7pm.

Taking pain meds with food normally reduces the amount of nausea that they cause and it also helps more of the drug to be absorbed by the stomach.

depends on the medication. on my pamphlet from the pharmacy (for pain medication) it literally states to take on an empty stomach for optimal effect. i will agree taking with food will reduce nausea (if there is any), but the nausea usually will go away after a few days. and most opiate based medications effects will be reduced if taken on top of food. most are absorbed through the GI tract and get "lost" in the food if you will...

Interesting discussion. Occasionally I get acid reflux and Tagamet helps that. Suprisingly, when I take a tab of tagamet and then a tab of Hydro, I get much better relief from the hydro. Maybe it's just me but the times I've tried this, the hydro seems to work much better.

I don't want to do this all the time and end up taking 2-3 tabs of Tagamet each day in addtion to the hydro. Anyone else ever had this experience?

Tagamet is known for hindering the metabolism of many drugs, including opioids. It is pretty important to see the list of drugs cimetidine interacts with in this fashion, as some of them can be clinically very significant.

In fact, the drug was withdrawn in the UK for a while - at least OTC - though the decision was reversed a short while later.

Sorry, Nephro but I'm still not clear on this but does that mean Tagamet increases the efficacy of Hydro or hinder it? Thanks

Increase.

It means that Tagamet may enhance the effect of opioid analgesics such as hydrocodone, and benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, due to increased plasma levels.

Some may call it a 'potentiator'.

Watcher, I too notice a "hot flash" from pain med. I went through peri-meno few years back and now it feels like that is back or something, however, hubby has reported that pain meds give him total upset stomach, hot sweats, I have seen him turn completely white and faint face first before so whenever his doc prescribes I watch him like a hawk! But yeah hot flash definately!

My PM doc says that taking pain meds after eating makes them work better.

I personally try to take them about an hour or two after a good meal

Quite a few people have problems taking pain meds on an empty stomach. In some people the nausea is there either way. It has never effected me one way or the other. Although I think that the effect of the pain meds are enhanced when eating just before taking. It may just be me though.

Guessing it all depends on ones ability to digest and their sensitivity.
I always take meds on an empty stomach. Then eat an hour later.
It really does make the meds seem stronger that way.
But if you use Soma, food is a med killer for that substance.
Once I eat, Soma for the rest of the day/night is very ineffective. Unless I eat again shortly after taking some.
Then it's partially useful.