When a child is sick and needs to take medicine, some parents may ask the child to drink some "sweet water" beforehand, or take the medicine with fruit juice, milk, etc. to mask the bitterness of the medicine. Is this practice correct? We have invited Dr. Liao Shili from the Clinical Pharmacy Department (Pharmacy Department) of West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the Pharmacy Department of West China Tianfu Hospital of Sichuan University to talk to everyone about how to take medication correctly. Choosing the right medication liquid is important for convenience. In daily life, some people often use milk, juice, tea, coffee, etc. to deliver medication, but this is actually unscientific. The metal ions, calcium, proteins, etc. in milk can form difficult to absorb complexes with many drugs (such as erythromycin, metronidazole, ketoconazole, compound Danshen tablets, etc.), and a large amount of calcium can also affect the absorption of iron, so it should be avoided to take them together with iron supplements. Tannins and theophylline in tea can react chemically with some drugs, which not only affects drug absorption and reduces efficacy, but also increases the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Tea also contains components such as caffeine and theophylline, which have an excitatory effect on the central nervous system and can reduce the sedative effect of sleeping pills. The caffeine contained in coffee has the effect of stimulating the central nervous system and stimulating gastric acid secretion, which can increase adverse reactions in the gastrointestinal tract and even induce gastric bleeding in severe cases. Antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory drugs, including compound preparations containing such drug ingredients such as cold medicine, have a stimulating effect on the gastric mucosa. Taking them with coffee can exacerbate the stimulation on the gastric mucosa and cause gastrointestinal discomfort. In addition, it is not recommended to take medication with fruit juice because fruit juice is rich in fruit acids. When taking drugs such as ibuprofen, compound aspirin, berberine, and acetylspiramycin, drinking acidic fruit juice can accelerate drug dissolution and damage the gastric mucosa. When taking medication, it is especially important to avoid drinking grapefruit juice. Grapefruits can affect the absorption of some drugs, such as the metabolism of antihypertensive drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, and anti allergic drugs, which may cause symptoms such as low blood pressure, muscle pain, dizziness, and palpitations. So when taking medication, it is important to choose plain water, preferably one hour before and after taking the medication, and try to avoid drinking milk, juice, tea, coffee, and other beverages as much as possible. It is worth noting that there are still people who use alcohol to take medicine. As the saying goes, 'Cefotaxime mixed with alcohol, leave as soon as you say it.'. Alcohol may affect the metabolism of various drugs in the body. If some cephalosporin drugs are taken during alcohol consumption, it may trigger drug reactions, which can be fatal in severe cases. Therefore, it is absolutely forbidden to take drugs with alcohol. Improper water consumption can also cause adverse reactions. Most people are accustomed to taking a pill, drinking a sip of water, and believe that swallowing the pill is enough, and it is not related to how much water they drink. In fact, improper drinking of water can prevent drugs from achieving their maximum efficacy, and in severe cases, may cause adverse drug reactions. For drugs without special requirements, they are usually taken with 150ml to 200ml of water; For traditional Chinese medicine granules, according to the dosage of traditional Chinese medicine decoction, it is best to brew the decoction into 150ml to 200ml; For capsules, to ensure smooth delivery to the stomach and avoid damaging the esophagus, it is recommended to drink no less than 300 milliliters of water. There are also some medications that require a lot of water after taking, such as antibiotics, sulfonamides, anti gout drugs, antiviral drugs, etc. It is necessary to drink plenty of water during the medication period to prevent damage to the kidneys and urethra during the excretion process. However, there are also some medications that require drinking less water after ingestion, such as gastric mucosal protectants, cough suppressants, or emergency drugs absorbed through the oral mucosa. To ensure the effectiveness of the medication, it is recommended not to drink water for half an hour after taking it. The safest way to take medication with white water at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius is not only the amount of water, but also the temperature of the water. Some medications should not be taken with water that is too hot. For example, enzyme drugs that are easily destroyed and inactivated by high temperatures, as well as preparations containing active bacteria, capsules, and syrup drugs. Overheated water not only affects the taste, but also affects the effectiveness and safety of drugs. Therefore, unless otherwise stated in the drug instructions or specifically requested by clinical physicians, it is safest and most effective to administer medication in 150ml to 200ml of white water at a temperature of around 37 ℃ for daily use. (New Society)