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Nigerian medical practitioners have warned Nigerians against taking painkillers, fizzy drinks, and alcohol due to the release of harmful metabolisms in the body.
They stated this in an exclusive interview with reporters, noting that water remains the best and most medically advisable liquid for taking painkillers and other drugs.
A former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, addressed his concerns in 2017 after a meeting with the Department of Food and Drug Services, the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the Standards Organization of Nigeria.
He said that although some carbonated drinks were safe for consumption, they should not be used to take drugs.
Dr. Lolu Ojo, a consultant pharmacist, stated that combining medications and fizzy drinks could reduce the efficacy of the drug.
He emphasized that alcohol should not be used with painkillers or any other substance owing to the possibility of exacerbating negative effects.
He decried the practice of dissolving more than the recommended amount of painkillers in fizzy beverages, claiming that excessive painkiller consumption could harm the liver and other important organs.
“When a drug is formulated, it has a measure of acidity and alkalinity, which is called pH. Many drugs have a pH that they work with, so when the drugs are taken with fizzy drinks, some of which may be a bit acidic or alkaline, they can affect the way the drugs function.
Nigerians were urged to adhere to drug prescriptions, stating that unhealthy drug habits cause drug resistance and lead to a strain on disease treatment.
