Headaches, muscle pain or menstrual pain cause many of us to immediately reach for a painkiller from the cabinet. But although this is a daily and seemingly simple action, it turns out that the way we take the pill can significantly affect how quickly it works.
Recent studies show that not only the type of medication matters, but also its form, what you drink with it, whether your stomach is empty and even your body position at the moment of swallowing. In some cases, a small change in habit can shorten the time to effect by dozens of minutes.
1. Choose the right formula
Not all painkillers are absorbed at the same rate. Regular tablets of paracetamol or ibuprofen usually start working within 30 to 60 minutes, but liquid capsules, liquigels or dissolvable tablets can work much faster.
The reason is simple: In liquid capsules the substance is already partially dissolved, so the body does not need to "break down" the tablet first in the stomach. Orally dissolving tablets can also begin to break down within seconds.
2. Take on an empty stomach, but carefully
When there is no food in the stomach, the pill moves more quickly to the small intestine, where most absorption occurs. Therefore in many cases the medication will start to work faster.
However, it is important to remember that not every medication is suitable for this. Ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin may irritate the stomach lining, so those who suffer from heartburn, stomach ulcers or digestive sensitivity should take them with a small amount of food or milk.
3. Drink plenty of water
One of the simplest and most effective tricks is to take the pill with a full glass of water. The water helps the tablet dissolve better and assists it in passing efficiently through the esophagus and stomach.
In addition, the liquid itself helps speed up the stomach emptying process, so the medication reaches the absorption area in the intestine faster.
4. Coffee can help
If it is a headache or migraine, coffee has a surprising advantage. Caffeine stimulates the digestive system, accelerates the movement of the pill to the intestine and may even enhance the effect of certain painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin.
This is also why some migraine medications already include caffeine in their formula. A hot drink can sometimes also help the tablet break down more quickly.
5. The surprising trick: Lie on your right side
It may sound strange, but one of the most interesting tricks is related to body position.
A study from Johns Hopkins University showed that when lying on the right side after taking the pill, gravity helps it reach the lowest area in the stomach, near the exit to the small intestine. In this position the pill dissolves 2.3 times faster compared to sitting upright.
According to the model developed in the study, a pill that dissolves within 10 minutes on the right side may take 23 minutes while sitting or lying on the back, and more than 100 minutes if lying on the left side.
Bottom line, you do not always need to change medication to get a faster effect. Sometimes all it takes is choosing the right form, drinking enough water, using coffee and letting gravity do its work.
Of course, anyone who suffers from liver disease, kidney disease, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure or heart disease should consult a doctor before regular use of painkillers.