Have you ever wondered, “How long does it take for the medicine to react in the body after taking it?”, or “How long will it take for the effects of the medicine to wear off?” Understanding the reaction time of the medicine is very important to ensure the treatment is effective.
Each drug has a different reaction time. There are drugs that take hours, even days, to react after being consumed.
On the other hand, there are also drugs that have a very fast effect. The factors that influence it vary, from the type of drug, formulation, to the condition of the individual's body.
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How long does it take for the medicine to take effect?
The duration of reaction time for drugs varies depending on the type, such as oral drugs and injectable drugs. For example, oral paracetamol generally reacts within 30 minutes to 1 hour, while injectable drugs have a faster reaction time.
Therefore, it is important to know the reaction time of drugs according to type. The following is an explanation of the types of drugs and the duration of the reaction, as reported by detik Health.
Inhalation or inhalation medication (7-10 seconds)
Inhaled or inhaled medication has the fastest reacting effect compared to other types of medication. Inhaled medication only takes about 7-10 seconds to be inhaled into the lungs and then carried to the brain by blood vessels.
This type of medicine is usually intended for patients who need medicine with a fast effect, for example asthma sufferers. Even though it is classified as very fast, the speed of this drug can also be influenced by the particle size and the condition of the patient's body.
Injection or injection medication (15 seconds-5 minutes)
Injectable drugs or injections are the next type of drug that has the fastest reaction effect, around 15 seconds to 5 minutes. Therefore, this drug is widely used, especially in emergency conditions. Compared to the type of drug that is swallowed, injectable drugs have a faster effect in reaching the blood vessels which are then distributed throughout the body.
Apart from that, administering injectable drugs can only be done by trained medical personnel, but the exception is in the case of type 1 diabetes patients who at any time have to inject insulin into their own bodies. Meanwhile, injectable drugs such as pain relievers, antibiotics and vitamins must be injected by medical personnel.
Topical medication (5 minutes – 30 minutes)
Topical medications, such as ointments and patches, are applied to the surface of the body to provide a local therapeutic effect. The reaction time for topical medications varies, generally between 5 minutes to 30 minutes. The reaction time of this topical medication depends on the type of medication used, skin condition and location of use. For example, dry and injured skin can absorb topical medication more quickly for healing.
Oral medication (5 minutes – 1 hour)
Oral drugs or drugs given by mouth such as syrup, capsules and tablets have a longer reaction effect than injection and inhalation. Even though it is slow, oral medication is much safer because if something goes wrong, the sufferer can vomit the medication again.
The reaction speed of oral medications is influenced by several factors, one of which is the form of the medication. Oral medication in the form of syrup reacts the fastest because it doesn't take a long time, while tablets have a film coated membrane that is designed so that they don't break apart in the stomach.
The cause of the drug not reacting
There are several reasons why someone may feel that the medication they are taking is not giving the expected reaction, Mother. The following are several factors that cause the drug to not react:
1. Expired medication and improper storage
Medications that are expired or stored improperly can lose their potency and not work as they should. Therefore, Mother, make sure to always check the expiration date of the medicine and store it in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight.
2. Incorrect drug dosage
A drug dose that is too high or too low can cause the drug not to work properly. The right dose of medication also depends on various factors, such as the patient's condition, body weight and age. A doctor or pharmacist will help determine the correct dosage.
3. Drug tolerance or resistance
If a person uses the same drug for a long period of time, their body may develop a tolerance or resistance to the drug. This can cause the medicine not to work well. If this happens, usually the doctor will change the drug or increase the dose.
How are drugs absorbed by the body?
Drugs can be absorbed by the body through several stages. Normally the drug absorption process takes around 30 minutes to 6 hours to have an effect on the body. Even so, according to a Harvard Medical School study, there are several types of drugs that will take a long time to react, for example anti-cholesterol drugs which may only show their effects after 2 weeks of consumption.
The medication consumed must go through several stages in the body before it can have a therapeutic effect. Here are the four main stages of a drug's journey in the body:
Absorption: the drug absorption process begins when the drug is introduced into the body either by mouth, injection, or inhalation. The absorbed drug will enter the intestine. When it reaches the small intestine, the chemical compounds in the drug will be absorbed and then flow throughout the blood vessels. Distribution: the drug will be distributed throughout the body's tissues via blood vessels. Metabolism: fat-soluble drugs will turn into water-soluble, making it easier to remove metabolic waste. Excretion: the remains of drug metabolism will be excreted from the body through feces and urine.
To speed up drug absorption, you can follow the tips below:
Take medicine with enough water. Take medicine after eating. Avoid eating fatty or high protein foods when taking medicine so that absorption is faster.
Avoid the following so that the drug takes effect quickly
When taking medication, there are several things that must be avoided so that the medication can work optimally in the body, including:
1. Drink coconut water
Coconut water contains electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium which can interfere with the absorption of certain types of medication, such as antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Therefore, Mother, it is best that when your child wants to take medicine, just use water.
2. Drink milk
Milk contains protein and calcium which can bind several types of drugs, such as tetracyclines and bisphosphonates. This can hinder the absorption of the drug and make it less effective. It is best to take the medicine with water 1 hour before or 2 hours after drinking milk.
3. Alcohol consumption
Alcohol can interfere with drug metabolism and increase the risk of side effects. It is best to avoid consuming alcohol while taking medication.
Thus, Mother, by understanding how long the medicine takes to react, will help in providing appropriate treatment when Mother or another family member is sick.
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(fia/fia)