Have you ever considered your posture while taking painkillers? Most likely not. Because when we have a severe headache, we are preoccupied with finding relief as soon as possible. Does it matter whether we take the pill while sitting or standing?
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that depending on the posture, the effect of painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol can be accelerated or slowed down.
In a study led by Professor Rajat Mittal in the United States, it was discovered that tablets work faster if you lie on the right side after taking them. In this manner, the analgesic should be effective within ten minutes. Comparatively, lying on your back requires more than twice as much time (23 minutes)!
The reason for the faster effect is also very simple to explain: If you are on the correct side, the tablet will move through the body more quickly. The drug goes through the stomach at a steeper angle, which means that it starts to work faster.
Posture has this influence on the effect of painkillers
How quickly a painkiller takes effect depends on whether we are standing, sitting, or lying down, as well as on which side. According to the article from the Johns Hopkins study, the researchers were surprised by the change in effect over time.
Drugs act faster on the right side. But what happens when you lie on your left side? In this case you have to wait much longer. The tablet stays in the stomach longer and is released into the intestine more slowly.
Here we have summarized the effective times for you again:
- Lying on the right side: 10 minutes to take effect
- Lying on left side: 100 minutes to take effect
- Standing, sitting and lying on your back: 23 minutes to take effect
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