Can adding sugar to medicine affect its effectiveness

Adding sugar to medication may affect its efficacy, depending on the type of medication. Common influencing factors include chemical reactions between sugar and drug components, interference of sugar on gastrointestinal absorption, and masking effect of sugar on bitter drugs. Adding a small amount of sugar to some traditional Chinese medicine decoctions or granules usually does not significantly affect the efficacy, especially for children taking medication. A small amount of rock sugar or honey can help alleviate bitterness. However, it should be noted that maltose may have an antagonistic effect on traditional Chinese medicine containing ephedra, and the iron ions in brown sugar are prone to precipitate with traditional Chinese medicine containing tannins. Corticosteroid drugs in Western medicine may themselves raise blood sugar, and adding extra sugar may increase metabolic burden. Drugs containing metal components such as magnesium aluminum carbonate tablets may have sugar content that slows down their disintegration rate. The outer sugar content of some antibiotic coated tablets has been accurately proportioned, and adding sugar on one's own may compromise the sustained-release effect of the coating.

Special dosage forms of drugs need to strictly avoid adding sugar. For example, there is a direct conflict between diabetes drugs and sugar, and bitter and emetic drugs rely on bitter stimulation to play a role. The addition of sugar to enteric coated tablets and sublingual medications may alter the site of drug release. Acidic sugars may reduce the absorption rate of alkaline drugs, such as when baking soda tablets are taken together with lemon sugar, which can cause a neutralization reaction. Some live bacterial preparations may experience accelerated fermentation and spoilage when exposed to sugar, such as Bifidobacterium Triple Active Powder.

During medication, it is recommended to take it with warm water. If seasoning is necessary, consult a doctor. When taking traditional Chinese medicine decoctions, you can first concentrate the medicine to reduce bitterness, or immediately take rock sugar after taking the medicine. It is safer for gastrointestinal hypersensitive patients to choose sugar free drugs, and diabetes patients can choose sugar substitute taste correction agents. Record any discomfort such as bloating or acid reflux after taking medication, and promptly report the interaction between medication and food to the pharmacist.