Coffee and Medications: Interactions You Should Know About

Coffee is one of the most in-demand and widely consumed beverages in the world, mainly due to caffeine, which brings a sense of alertness every morning. However, sometimes your favorite drink may interact with certain medications, reducing their effectiveness or increasing their side effects. Therefore, it's best to avoid consuming them directly with coffee.

1. Painkillers:
   Some over-the-counter pain relievers like Panadol or paracetamol contain added caffeine. Taking them with coffee speeds up the absorption of these drugs by increasing stomach acid and emptying the stomach more quickly. While this can enhance drug absorption and make painkillers work faster, it may also increase the risk of side effects like stomach irritation or bleeding—especially when combined with other caffeine sources. Hence, caution is advised.

2. Heart medications:
   Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure and heart rate, an effect that typically lasts 3 to 4 hours after consumption. If you're taking medications for high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat, coffee may interfere with the effectiveness of those drugs.

This doesn’t mean people with heart conditions must avoid coffee completely, but they should monitor its effect on their symptoms and consider reducing their intake or switching to decaffeinated coffee if needed.

3. Antidepressants:
   Interactions between caffeine and mental health medications can be more complex. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like sertraline and citalopram, are commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Laboratory studies suggest caffeine may bind to these drugs in the stomach, reducing their absorption and potentially their effectiveness.

4. Cold and flu medications:
   Caffeine, found in coffee, stimulates the central nervous system. Pseudoephedrine, a common decongestant found in cold and flu medications, is also a stimulant. Taking both together can overstimulate the nervous system, leading to anxiety, headaches, insomnia, and increased heart rate.

Most cold medications already contain added caffeine, which increases these risks. Some studies also indicate that combining caffeine with pseudoephedrine can raise blood sugar levels and body temperature, which is particularly important for people with diabetes.