hour before
Empty stomach
Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals, usually with a full glass of water.
Mnemonic: “1 before, 2 after.”Educational use only. This site is for information, education, and entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice.
Drug Administration Memory Lab
Right drug.
Right moment.
Learn when to take oral medications, what must stay whole, and when grapefruit changes the picture. Search all 851 entries from the supplied CPS table.
CPS Source-based study tool
THE1 - 2empty-stomach rule
1 hbefore
2 hafter
MEALthe anchor
CPS
Source and safety note
Built from the supplied CPS drug-administration table
The drug timing, grapefruit categories, formulation restrictions, and administration instructions on this page are transcribed from the attached CPS resource. Information can change and formulation matters. Confirm the current CPS entry and product monograph, or speak with a pharmacist, before making a clinical decision.
The timing code
Anchor every instruction to the meal
Remember the order as 1 - 30 - Meal - 2. One hour before, 15 to 30 minutes before, with the meal, or two hours after.
minutes before
Before meals
Usually take 15 to 30 minutes before the meal begins.
Mnemonic: “Beat the bite.”at mealtime
With or after meals
Take during the meal or immediately after finishing it.
Mnemonic: “Plate, pill, proceed.”either way
With or without food
Food timing is flexible. If the note says “be consistent,” use the same pattern each day.
Mnemonic: “Choose, then cruise.”Do not crush or chew
Keep the dosage form intact unless the specific product instructions say otherwise.
Empty stomach, preferably
Use the empty-stomach rule when possible. The CPS legend notes it may be taken with food if gastric upset occurs.
Be consistent
Presence or absence of food may change bioavailability, so repeat the same routine.
Grapefruit signal
Read the letter before the label
The source uses Lexi-Interact risk ratings. Higher letters call for more caution.
N/A means no grapefruit interaction was found through Lexi-Interact when the source document was written. The CPS source recommends searching “grapefruit juice” with the generic drug name in Lexi-Interact for more information.
Full CPS directory
Find the instruction, fast
Search by generic drug, food instruction, grapefruit level, or a phrase such as “glass of water.”
851 entriesShowing 48
CPS table p. 1
5-aminosalicylic acid (DR; Octasa)
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole with a glass of water
CPS table p. 1
5-aminosalicylic acid (DR; Salofalk)
Before mealsDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole with a glass of water
CPS table p. 1
5-aminosalicylic acid (DR and ER; Mezavant)
With or after mealsDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole with a glass of water
CPS table p. 1
5-aminosalicylic acid (ER; Pentasa)
With or after mealsDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole with a glass of water
CPS table p. 2
abacavir
With or without food
CPS table p. 2
abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine
With or without food
CPS table p. 2
abacavir/lamivudine
With or without food
CPS table p. 2
abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine
With or without food
CPS table p. 2
abemaciclib
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole; be consistent with timing of drug administration
CPS table p. 3
abiraterone
Empty stomachDo not crush or chew
Not to be taken with solid or liquid food; swallow whole with a glass of water
CPS table p. 3
abrocitinib
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole with a glass of water; be consistent with timing of drug administration. If GI upset occurs, take with food
CPS table p. 3
acalabrutinib
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
Swallow whole with a glass of water; be consistent with timing of drug administration
CPS table p. 3
acamprosate (EC)
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
CPS table p. 4
acarbose
With or after meals
Take with first bite of a main meal
CPS table p. 4
acebutolol
With or without food
CPS table p. 4
acetaminophen (ER)
Empty stomachDo not crush or chew
CPS table p. 4
acetaminophen (IR)
With or without food
CPS table p. 4
acetaminophen/ibuprofen
With or without food
Take with a glass of water; if GI upset occurs, take with food or milk
CPS table p. 4
acetazolamide
With or without food
Food decreases GI side effects
CPS table p. 5
acetylcysteine
With or without food
CPS table p. 5
acitretin
With or after meals
Food optimizes absorption
CPS table p. 5
acyclovir
With or without food
CPS table p. 5
afatinib
Empty stomach
Food reduces absorption
CPS table p. 5
alendronate
Before mealsDo not crush or chew
Take in the morning with a glass of plain water only and at least 30 min before any food, beverage or other medication
CPS table p. 6
alfacalcidol
With or after meals
Take with a glass of water or milk
CPS table p. 6
alfuzosin (ER)
With or after mealsDo not crush or chew
CPS table p. 6
alginic acid
With or without food
Chew tablets; follow with a half-glass of water or milk
CPS table p. 6
alitretinoin
With or after meals
CPS table p. 6
allopurinol
With or after meals
Food decreases GI side effects
CPS table p. 6
almotriptan
With or without food
CPS table p. 7
alogliptin
With or without food
CPS table p. 7
alogliptin/metformin
With or after meals
Food decreases GI side effects
CPS table p. 7
alpelisib
With or after mealsDo not crush or chew
Be consistent with timing of drug administration
CPS table p. 7
alpha-D-galactosidase
With or after meals
Swallow, chew or crumble onto food; add only to food cool enough to eat
CPS table p. 7
alprazolam
With or without food
CPS table p. 8
aluminum hydroxide
With or without food
CPS table p. 8
amantadine
With or without food
CPS table p. 8
ambrisentan
With or without food
CPS table p. 8
amifampridine
With or without food
If GI upset occurs, take with food
CPS table p. 8
amiloride
With or after meals
Food decreases GI side effects; avoid large quantities of potassium-rich foods
CPS table p. 8
amiodarone
With or without food
Be consistent; food decreases GI side effects
CPS table p. 9
amitriptyline
With or without food
CPS table p. 9
amlodipine
With or without food
CPS table p. 9
amlodipine/telmisartan
With or without food
Be consistent
CPS table p. 9
amoxicillin
With or without food
CPS table p. 9
amoxicillin/clavulanic acid
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
Food decreases GI side effects
CPS table p. 9
amphetamines, mixed salts (Adderall XR)
With or without foodDo not crush or chew
Can sprinkle contents of capsule onto applesauce; do not chew or crush contents
CPS table p. 10
ampicillin
Empty stomach
Active recall
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Guess the main food-timing instruction, then reveal the full CPS entry.
Random recall card1 / 851
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5-aminosalicylic acid (DR; Octasa)
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5-aminosalicylic acid (DR; Octasa)
Formulation abbreviations from the sourceOpen glossary
CDcontrolled-delivery
CRcontrolled-release
DRdelayed-release
ECenteric-coated
ERextended-release
IRimmediate-release
GIgastrointestinal
LAlong-acting
MAOImonoamine oxidase inhibitor
MRmodified-release
ODForodispersible film
ODTorodispersible tablet
RDrapid-dissolve
SLsublingual
SRsustained-release
XC / XL / XRextended-release