AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question I am supposed to take this pres. 1/2 hour before eating. Can it be taken at other times? How long after eating? at bedtime?
Answer Hi,Betsy,
It depends on the medication. What is the name of the medication? Some meds such as bisphosphonates (Actonel,Fosamax,Boniva) have to be taken 30min before the first food, drink,or medication of the day because of the risk of irritation of the esophagus. Other medication has to be taken before food because minerals in the food can render the drug ineffective. Tetracycline in the presence of calcium and other minerals is ineffective when taken together. It all depends on the particular medication, so in order to give you a more accurate answer, I would need to know the medication name. Mary
