Coffee warning: Just one cup could trigger alarming effects for millions on common medication
A pharmacist has warned that drinking coffee can be harmful for thousands of people who take common medications.
This includes those on thyroid medication, SSRI antidepressants, drugs for ADHD and even over-the-counter decongestants for cold and flu.
The energy-boosting drink can also make life-saving heart medication less effective, increasing the risk of a deadly irregular heartbeat, according to pharmacy expert at Kingston University, Dipa Kamda.
While in other cases, caffeine can interact with prescription drugs, causing a range of debilitating symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, fast heart rate, raised blood drowsiness, confusion, and even stomach bleeding.
'While your morning brew might feel harmless, it can interact with certain medicines in ways that reduce their effectiveness, or increase the risk of side-effects,' warned Dipa Kamda, writing for The Conversation.
'From common cold tablets to antidepressants, caffeine's impact on the body goes far beyond a quick energy boost.
'Coffee may be part of your daily routine, but it's also a potent chemical compound that can influence how your body processes medicine.'
Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up activity in your brain and nervous system, she explained.
Popular cold and flu medicines, like Sudafed, contain a decongestant called pseudoephedrine, which also has stimulant properties.
If you combine this with the caffeine in coffee, the effects can be amplified, causing jitters, restlessness, headaches, fast heart rate and insomnia.
Combining caffeine with pseudoephedrine can also raise blood sugar and body temperature, particularly important for people with diabetes, studies have found.
With many cold medications already containing added caffeine, drinking coffee can increase the risks further.
The risk also applies to those taking stimulant medications to treat ADHD, like amphetamines, or asthma drugs such as theophylline, which has stimulant properties.
The pharmacist warned: 'Using them together may increase the risk of side-effects such as a rapid heartbeat and sleep disruption.'
There is also added caffeine in some branded over-the-counter painkillers, such as those containing paracetamol or aspirin.
Drinking coffee can speed up how quickly the drugs are absorbed and while this helps them work faster, it can be dangerous.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in dozens of cold and flu medicines on the shelves
'It could raise the risk of side effects like stomach irritation, or bleeding,' said Ms Kamda.
'[Although] no serious cases have been reported, caution is still advised.
Drinking coffee while taking some types of medicines to control irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or blood pressure is known to make them less effective.
However, Ms Kamda added those with heart conditions don't have to stop drinking coffee entirely, but may want to 'consider limiting intake or switching to decaf'.
If you drink coffee immediately before or after taking thyroid medication like levothyroxine, studies have found absorption of the drug can fall by up to 50 per cent.
This can cause symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, weight gain and constipation, to return 'even if you're taking your medicine correctly,' she explained.
It is recommended those taking the medication should wait 30 to 60 minutes before eating or drinking coffee.
However, this is most common with tablet forms of levothyroxine, and less likely with liquid forms, Ms Kamda pointed out.
This timing rule also applies to a class of medications used to treat osteoporosis and other bone conditions called bisphosphonates, including alendronate and risedronate.
It can also make the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant, selective serotonin inhibitors, for example sertraline and citalopram, less effective, lab studies have found.
And drinking coffee with the older and less commonly used tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such amitriptyline or imipramine, can tirgger side effects.
The pharmacist, with 17 years experience, explained: 'TCAs are broken down by the liver enzyme CYP1A2, which also metabolises caffeine.
'The competition between the two can slow drug breakdown, increasing side-effects, or delay caffeine clearance, making you feel jittery or wired longer than usual.'
The problematic ingredient in coffee, caffeine, can also be found in a cup of tea, a can of Coca Cola, and even in green tea.
The pharmacist added: 'Everyone metabolises caffeine differently. Some people feel fine after three cups, while others get side-effects after just one.
'Pay attention to how your body responds and talk to your pharmacist or GP if anything feels off.
'If you're ever unsure whether your medicine and your coffee are a good match, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
'A short conversation might save you weeks of side-effects or reduced treatment effectiveness, and help you enjoy your brew with peace of mind.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mounjaro weight loss jab: All you need to know
GPs in England will be able to prescribe weight loss jabs for the first time on the NHS on Monday, as the health service begins its mass rollout. Some 220,000 people with the 'greatest need' are expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide and made by Lilly, through the NHS over the next three years. Here the PA news agency takes a look at the drug and the rollout. – How does tirzepatide work? Tirzepatide, or Mounjaro, is an antidiabetic drug which lowers blood sugar levels and slows down how quickly food is digested. It makes you feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. If the jab is recommended by a healthcare professional, those using it will need to eat a balanced, reduced-calorie diet and to exercise regularly while taking it, according to the NHS website. – Who might be eligible for the drug? In the first year of the programme, the drug will be offered to people with a body mass index (BMI) score of more than 40 who have at least four other health problems linked to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes; high blood pressure; heart disease; and obstructive sleep apnoea. It was previously only accessible to patients through a special weight loss service, to severely obese people who also suffer from a range of other health problems. Estimates suggest around 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight loss drugs, which may have been prescribed through specialist weight loss services or via private prescription. – How would it be administered? The drug is usually delivered through a self-administered weekly injection which a doctor or nurse will show patients how to use, the NHS website says. – Who cannot take tirzepatide? Mounjaro is not recommended for those who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding or have certain health conditions, according to the NHS. For those taking the contraceptive pill and using tirzepatide, the NHS recommends using an additional method of contraception, such as a condom, for the first four weeks of treatment and for four weeks after each dose increase as the contraceptive pill may not be absorbed by the body during this time. – What are the potential side effects? Potential side effects of tirzepatide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Peterborough school head teacher wants to buck low literacy trend
The head teacher of a city junior school said he was on a mission to make "lifelong readers" out of his Augustine's Junior School in Peterborough is located in an area where pupil literacy rates were below the national by the Literacy Trust showed just two-thirds of pupils in the city finished primary school at the expected reading level."We really want to buck that trend as much as possible," said headteacher Sam Brunt. The school has pupils from 32 countries of origin with 35 different languages spoken, which Mr Brunt said posed some challenges but also "presents lots of opportunities"."Looking back, I probably had quite a sheltered upbringing, whereas the good thing about our school is we've got loads of opportunities to share different beliefs and different languages," he at the school encouraged reading with an outdoor book bus in the school's garden, which the children are free to use during break also have a dedicated session each day where a teacher reads a story, which deputy head and English lead Jen Brattan said was "a priority"."We host reading cafes where we get as many parents into school as possible to teach them about the importance of reading," she said."It's easy to think you don't need to read with [older] children anymore, and we send that message that no matter what age your child is, they love to sit down and enjoy a book with an adult." Research by the Literacy Trust shows reading for fun enhances young people's academic performance as well as their wellbeing and said just one in five young people aged between five and 18 read for enjoyment, a figure which was a "concerning" all-time wards in Peterborough were deemed to be in the top 10% of wards in the country with the greatest "literacy need", according to the Augustine's has several pupils who act as reading champions by encouraging their peers to get involved in reading for a year six pupil, said: "I like reading because it makes you feel like you're in your own dream that you can control."Emilija, in year five, said: "When you sit down with your book, you feel nice and relaxed," while Ellie, in the same year group, said: "I like reading because it helps me learn new vocabulary, and helps me to go in different worlds." Peterborough City Council said it was working with families and schools to try and tackle low literacy rates, especially in more deprived Cole, the cabinet member for children's services, said: "There is a challenge, which could be working patterns [or] it could be access to books."She said the council was working with schools where literacy levels were lower to come up with an improvement plan and encourage those doing well to share best practice."Teachers are very good at magpie-ing," said Cole, who has been a teacher for 20 years."They see an initiative that works in one school, take it on board, thinking 'how can I implement that in my own setting?'" Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Symbolic tree in Reading used to help recruit foster carers
A tree planted to symbolise keeping children in care rooted in the communities they come from has been decorated with messages from foster parents and young Fostering held an information event at the tree - planted four years ago - in Reading town centre as staff sought to recruit more Capan, who works for the agency, said some children have to be placed outside their hometown because of a lack of foster can foster children from Reading if they have a spare room, are aged over 21 and live within 20 miles of the town. "Due to the lack of fosters carers in the past and even currently, children end up going out of area which we don't want for them," said Ms Capan."We want them to be secure here in Reading so that's what the tree symbolises."Sinead Gibson, who has fostered for nearly 20 years, said she enjoys the difference she can make."I've learned that you can just never predict," she said."You might get a description of the child and the child may have loads of difficulties on paper and then when the child comes to you, you're just a fit and it works." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
