Warning: Don’t Drink Coffee and These Medications Together—Check the Guidelines
Drinking coffee has become a common morning routine for many people. However, when the body is unwell and medication is required, this habit should be considered because coffee can affect how medicines work in the body.
Jennifer Bourgeois, Pharm.D., says there are several types of medicines that should not be taken close to coffee as this can trigger side effects or reduce the medication’s effectiveness.
‘Coffee can alter how certain medicines are absorbed, metabolised, or eliminated by the body,’ she said, cited from EatingWell, Saturday 23 May 2026.
Interactions between caffeine and medicines can cause heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and suboptimal absorption of medicines.
Dr Emmanuel Osei-Boamah explained that caffeine is absorbed very quickly in the digestive tract and its peak level in the bloodstream can be reached within 15 minutes to two hours after consumption.
‘That means coffee and medicines can interact rapidly if taken close in time,’ said Dr Emmanuel Osei-Boamah of Mercy Family Care, Baltimore, cited from Everyday Health.
Therefore health experts advise spacing coffee consumption and medicines by at least 1–2 hours. However, a 2–3 hour gap is considered safer depending on the drug being taken.
Here is a list of medicines that are best not taken with coffee:
- Antidepressants
Antidepressants used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions can have their absorption affected by coffee. Drugs likely to interact with caffeine include amitriptyline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, and paroxetine.
One of the most notable is fluvoxamine or Luvox. This medication can increase caffeine levels in the body, making coffee side effects more pronounced.
‘Luvox inhibits caffeine metabolism, resulting in higher caffeine levels in the body and the potential for prolonged side effects such as heart palpitations and anxiety,’ said toxinologist Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., of MedStar Health.
- Antipsychotics
Medications such as clozapine and olanzapine used to treat schizophrenia and major depressive disorder should not be taken with coffee either. Caffeine can impede the breakdown of the drug in the body, raising its blood levels.
- Cold and Allergy Medications
Cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine and fexofenadine should also not be taken with coffee. These ingredients are stimulants like caffeine and can increase the risk of heart palpitations, restlessness, and raised blood pressure.
- Bronchodilators for Asthma
Bronchodilators help to relax the airways in people with asthma. However, consuming coffee close to these medicines can worsen side effects such as headaches, heart palpitations, and nervousness.
Additionally, caffeine can reduce the effectiveness of drug absorption in the airways.
Therefore, the public is advised not to take coffee indiscriminately during treatment. If you routinely take certain medicines, consult a doctor or pharmacist to determine a safe interval for coffee in order to keep the medicine’s benefits optimal.