Food and medication

Antacids and medication

The aluminium, magnesium or calcium in antacids can bind to some medicines in the gut so less is absorbed. Keep them a few hours apart.

2 medicines on our checker are affected. Tap a medicine for every food and drink that matters with it.

Take care antacids with these medicines

  • Levothyroxine · thyroxine, synthroid, eltroxin

    Antacids bind levothyroxine. Keep them 4 hours from your dose.

  • Tetracycline antibiotics · doxycycline, lymecycline, tetracycline

    Antacids bind the antibiotic so less is absorbed. Keep them 2 to 3 hours from your dose.

Foods and drinks that count as antacids

  • Antacids
  • Gaviscon
  • Rennie
  • Milk of magnesia
  • Setlers

Common questions

Which medicines does antacids affect?
2 medicines on our checker: Levothyroxine (take care), Tetracycline antibiotics (take care).
Which foods count as antacids?
Antacids, Gaviscon, Rennie, Milk of magnesia, Setlers.

General information from NHS medicine pages and drug labels, not medical advice. Always follow your prescriber, pharmacist or the leaflet with your medicine. How we check.