Recently I started taking Trazodone as a sleep aid. The prescription says take 1/2 tablet by mouth at bedtime. There is also a sticker saying TAKE WITH FOOD. How much should I eat with it? A cracker (i hate crackers)? What? DOes it have to be exactly at the same time? What if I had a snack half an hour before?

Basic questions: What amount of food? How close to the actual swallowing of the pill?

Thaaaanks

I take that medication.

I usually just have a small snack of something I like about 1/2 before bed with the pill.

Thanks Sherasi

Good question, IF! I take an herbal sleep aid sometimes, which also says "take with food," but I don't. My stomach isn't going to digest itself or anything, is it?

In most instances, especially that of Trazodone, take it with a light snack (the higher the fiber, the better). You don't need a 7-course meal, a piece of bread or a few crackers is fine.

Take with food usually means that the stomach acids will churn up with the chemicals in the medicine, either causing minor stomach irritation or in many cases your stomach acids will lower the effectiveness of the chemicals in the drugs. There are many newer time released meds which will not make it through the stomach to the intestine (where the chemicals are absorbed by the body) the time release coating on each particle is stripped away and the drug is released all at once. Taking with food helps the medication make it to the intestine with its coating which, as it travels through the intestines loses its coating which released the medication.

Take with food may also mean take with milk Something about milk helps to cut down the acid in the stomach, thus a glass of milk with most meds will work. I take my seizure med (Extended Released medication) with a glass of milk. If I don't, then I get a little punch drunk early on as my levels rise too high as the medication is dumped in one lump into my system.

Milk can be contrary to some meds, like antibiotics. Your best bet if to call your pharmacist and ask if a specific drug can be taken with milk instead of food.

I believe (I didn't look it up) in this particular case the food is to help prevent stomach issues.

Things to stay away from are the acids (citrus, tomatoes, spicy foods), Sugars (Fruits contain sugars too) and to stick with the grains. If you are doing low carb. then perhaps meat or a bland vegetable, say celery or lettuce.

No, not a whole meal, a single slice of bread sized portion is good enough,

Cheers

David