# how long does an Rx pill stay in your stomach? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850 "2012-06-11T20:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/1 "2012-06-11T20:28:59Z")
I took my BC pill around 2 1/2 hours ago. I just threw up - hard, so I’m pretty sure my stomach is totally emptied out. Should I take another pill? (I have a couple lying around from very rare “oops, forgot” days.) Need answer … kinda fast-ish. Medical dopers, pharmacists, nurses etc: what say you? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/2 "2012-06-11T20:36:08Z")
As a general rule, if vomiting occurs more than an hour after a pill is taken by mouth, it can be considered absorbed. OTOH, there are exceptions . . . ETA: Not advice, but in a generic sense, I think 2.5 hours has guaranteed absorption. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/3 "2012-06-11T21:10:24Z")
That doesn’t sound quite right. I took the pill right after a large-ish meal, and a significant volume of my ex-lunch came back up. Are you saying that digestion is somewhat selective i.e. the pill is digested and absorbed before the beef and noodles were? This is Apri, by the way, if the brand matters. I understand that some formulations are designed to be time-release or whatever, but to my knowlege this one is not. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/4 "2012-06-11T21:26:28Z")
That’s about how I got pregnant the first time. Were I you, knowing what I know now, I’d use another method of birth control IN ADDITION to your regularly scheduled pills for the rest of this month. That is, don’t take another pill, but do use condoms or contraceptive foam for the rest of this month. Obviously, you’re not going to want to get an IUD implanted or a diaphragm fitted for this (unless you were considering it anyway), but condoms are one hell of a lot cheaper than a baby. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/5 "2012-06-11T21:44:17Z")
Don’t birth control pills have a series of pills with varying degrees of hormones and/or none at all? So, a particular course of pills might not be identical. Various days have various am’t of hormones and some none at all, but are there to keep one trained in taking them. . ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/6 "2012-06-11T22:34:33Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I took my BC pill around 2 1/2 hours ago. I just threw up - hard, so I’m pretty sure my stomach is totally emptied out. Should I take another pill? (I have a couple lying around from very rare “oops, forgot” days.) > > Need answer .. kinda fast-ish. Medical dopers, pharmacists, nurses etc: what say you? You need an answer “fastish” as in you can’t take the night off? Did you get married today, or what? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/7 "2012-06-11T22:44:09Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Don’t birth control pills have a series of pills with varying degrees of hormones and/or none at all? > > So, a particular course of pills might not be identical. Various days have various am’t of hormones and some none at all, but are there to keep one trained in taking them. > > . The placebos are obvious (different color, etc.) and this was one of the “hormone” e.g. non-placebos. > [@colonial](#): > > You need an answer “fastish” as in you can’t take the night off? > > Did you get married today, or what? - snerk \* ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/8 "2012-06-12T02:00:57Z")
I just looked up the pharmacokinetics on Apri, according to the prescribing information, at steady state, peak concentration of the active ingredients occurs 1.4 hours plus or minus 0.9 hours. That means that the active ingredients, in a worse case, take 2.3 hours to be fully absorbed into your blood stream. Since it was about that long, or longer between administration and vomiting, I think you’ll be perfectly fine. So, no need to take another tablet, or worry for the rest of the month. Disclaimer: While I am a pharmacist, I am probably not licensed in your state, and besides, I could just be some random person on the internet. So, if you get pregnant, don’t sue me for child support! [Cite](http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=a9e08f9b-9862-4c2c-8302-53dc82d85126) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/9 "2012-06-12T02:12:53Z")
Let’s put it this way…if it was a morphine pill in a hospital, I couldn’t give you another until your prescribed 4 hours had passed. It’s assumed to have gotten into your system already. But if you had vomited within the hour of taking it, or seen it in your vomit, I would have suggested you call your doctor’s office and talk to her nurse. It’s quite possible a woman would be advised to take another and/or follow the following package insert advice for a missed pill, but that would be up to her doctor: > [@](#): > > If the patient misses one (1) active tablet in Weeks 1, 2, or 3, the tablet should be taken as soon as she remembers. If the patient misses two (2) active tablets in Week 1 or Week 2, the patient should take two (2) tablets the day she remembers and two (2) tablets the next day; and then continue taking one (1) tablet a day until she finishes the pack. The patient should be instructed to use a back-up method of birth control if she has sex in the seven (7) days after missing pills. If the patient misses two (2) active tablets in the third week or misses three (3) or more active tablets in a row, the patient should throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that same day. The patient should be instructed to use a back-up method of birth control if she has sex in the seven (7) days after missing pills. > **[Apri (Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets): Side Effects, Uses, Dosage,...](https://www.rxlist.com/apri-drug.htm)** > > Apri (Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets) may treat, side effects, dosage, drug interactions, warnings, patient labeling, reviews, and related medications including drug comparison and health resources. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/10 "2012-06-12T03:22:00Z")
What are the negative effects of taking another pill? ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/11 "2012-06-12T13:44:47Z")
Karl Gauss has a mighty fine reputation here as a medical expert. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/12 "2012-06-12T17:36:21Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > What are the negative effects of taking another pill? Not much, in the grand scheme of things: Nausea. “Wasting” a spare backup pill. Messing with the hormonal status quo, which, for me, always seems to produce breakthrough bleeding. Of course, on the other hand, none of those negative effects include “made a baby.” Thanks, all, for the very informative and detailed posts. Since it was just the one (and I promise to take mine today right on time and eat only the most tummy-friendly of foods :D) I think I’ll be OK and I promise not to sue anyone here for child support anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/13 "2012-06-12T18:57:56Z")
There is a standard of absorption within 45 minutes that is used for OTC pills. Off-brand pills that do not dissolve in the stomach within that time are downrated. That used to be more of a problem. Today the vast majority of pills of all kinds will dissolve quickly. 45 minutes is not a perfect guideline for prescription pills but I would expect them to be within that ballpark. BCPs are small and most do not have coatings that would retard digestion from what I’ve read so the fact that you were retaining food in your stomach at 2 1/2 hours probably is not an indication that the pill was still there. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/14 "2012-06-13T17:50:44Z")
Interesting subject, as this happened to me before. I had been nauseated, tried to take my BC anyway, and immediately vomited. There was no pill in the toilet. I also took a pill last night that was blue. Same thing. How could I miss a fresh blue pill (everything else was yellow bile and some water)? Where are these pills vanishing to? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/15 "2012-06-13T20:02:35Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > … 45 minutes is not a perfect guideline for prescription pills but I would expect them to be within that ballpark. BCPs are small and most do not have coatings that would retard digestion from what I’ve read so the fact that you were retaining food in your stomach at 2 1/2 hours probably is not an indication that the pill was still there. Let me see if I’m understanding what you wrote: do you mean that the pill dissolves so quickly that it is absorbed (through the stomach lining … ?) before the food - which takes longer due to fats, fiber etc. taking a while to break down - leave the stomach and continues on down the chute? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/16 "2012-06-13T20:02:43Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > That doesn’t sound quite right. I took the pill right after a large-ish meal, and a significant volume of my ex-lunch came back up. Are you saying that digestion is somewhat selective i.e. the pill is digested and absorbed before the beef and noodles were? > > This is Apri, by the way, if the brand matters. I understand that some formulations are designed to be time-release or whatever, but to my knowlege this one is not. Other posters have touched on this, but in general yes - most prescription pills can be absorbed through the stomach lining directly. Food in general cannot - the stomach will churn it down and break it down with acid, but nutrients are not absorbed until the food passes through to the upper part of the small intestine. And of course, some of it would never have been absorbed, but would have come out the other end. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/17 "2012-06-13T20:04:41Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > That doesn’t sound quite right. I took the pill right after a large-ish meal, and a significant volume of my ex-lunch came back up. Are you saying that digestion is somewhat selective i.e. the pill is digested and absorbed before the beef and noodles were? Yes. The pill was designed to be quickly absorbed. The food wasn’t. Food takes hours and hours to digest ([so says the mayo clinic](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestive-system/an00896)). Now, that link gives the time for food to leave the stomach and small intestine. But, if you vomited, would the small intestine be involved? [This](http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/basics/transit.html) link from [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-469164.html) old SDMB thread indicates that about 4-5 hours is needed for the meal to leave the stomach completely. Pills generally need to absorb a hell of a lot faster than that so they can start doing their jobs. Besides, the pill (whatever one it is) isn’t travelling into the small intestine. In other words, what **chrisk** said. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/18 "2012-06-13T22:21:41Z")
Just to pick a nit, some pills are designed to not break down in the stomach, and they do need to reach the more alkaline small intestine to break down. Those are the “[enteric coated](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteric_coating)” ones. They’ll usually come with a warning not to crush or cut them, because if you breach the coating, they \*will \*dissolve in the stomach, but we don’t want them to (for biochemical reasons that the pharmacists in the thread may deign to tell us.;)) But there are not any birth control pills of that type that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/19 "2012-06-14T00:58:47Z")
> [@colonial](#): > > You need an answer “fastish” as in you can’t take the night off? When I got a prescription for birth control pills, one of the things the doctor emphasized was the importance of taking the pill at the same time everyday so there was a consistent amount of drug in my bloodstream all the time. If the OP threw up a pill, it’s not unreasonable she’d want an answer within a few hours, if she needed to take another one. I’ve also heard anecdotes from other women about getting pregnant because they travelled over several times zones and were taking their pills late according to their body’s clocks. Hope you are feeling better, **purplehorseshoe**. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850/20 "2012-06-14T02:47:47Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > Interesting subject, as this happened to me before. I had been nauseated, tried to take my BC anyway, and immediately vomited. > > There was no pill in the toilet. > > I also took a pill last night that was blue. Same thing. How could I miss a fresh blue pill (everything else was yellow bile and some water)? Where are these pills vanishing to? I’m pretty sure the blue is only a thin coating that is easily broken down or dissolved. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-an-rx-pill-stay-in-your-stomach/624850.md?page=2)