Beware: That fruit juice you're drinking can gang up with your morning meds. It can cause a chemical reaction that you and your doctor were not counting on. One that can be unpredictable and dangerous.
The food you eat while taking certain medications can affect the way your body uses those medicines. Some foods can lower the amount of a drug that your body absorbs, making it less effective. Other foods may interfere with your body's process of breaking down and using medications. This can cause drug levels to be dangerously high.
Older adults often take more than one medication at a time, so the risk of drug reactions increases with age.
Some common examples of how certain foods can affect the way your body uses medicine are listed below:
Grapefruit juice
Many medicines are affected by grapefruit or grapefruit juice. A chemical in the fruit can cause medication to build up in the body. It is not know exactly how much grapefruit causes this affect, but many pharmacists recommend that you simply avoid this fruit if you take the following medications.
Milk, yogurt and other dairy products
Some antibiotics, especially some used for skin infections or acne, should not be mixed with milk or milk products. These drugs include tetracycline and doxycycline. Eating milk or milk products with these antibiotics can lower their effectiveness.
Bottom line: Don't take tetracycline or doxycycline one hour before or two hours after consuming milk or milk products. Also, ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that can decrease the effectiveness of these drugs.
Leafy greens and other foods high in vitamin K
Vitamin K plays a role in the complex process of blood clotting. Because of this, it's important to watch how much vitamin K you get in your diet when you are taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin). Some foods with lots of vitamin K include spinach and other leafy greens, kale, collards, and parsley. But don't stop eating these foods altogether. It's best to maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K in your diet.
Bottom line: The goal is to try to take in about the same amount of vitamin K every day. If you change your eating patterns, you may need a medication adjustment, so always check with your doctor about the right foods for you.
Coffee, colas, tea, energy drinks and other foods with caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant. That means it causes your heart to beat faster and makes you more alert. Certain asthma medications also have stimulant affects. These medications include:
Bananas and other potassium-rich foods
Foods high in potassium are almost always good for you. They include bananas, oranges and many green leafy vegetables. People who take certain types of water pills, also called diuretics, are encouraged to eat plenty of them. These diuretics include:
The final bottom line
Many foods interact with medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. To cut your risk for interactions:
Health
Older adults often take more than one medication at a time, so the risk of drug reactions increases with age.
Some common examples of how certain foods can affect the way your body uses medicine are listed below:
Grapefruit juice
Many medicines are affected by grapefruit or grapefruit juice. A chemical in the fruit can cause medication to build up in the body. It is not know exactly how much grapefruit causes this affect, but many pharmacists recommend that you simply avoid this fruit if you take the following medications.
- Some cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, including: atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor) and lovastatin (Mevacor)
- Some drugs given for high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and other heart conditions, including: felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), amiordarone (Cordarone) and disopyramide (Norpace)
- Some immunosuppressive medications. including: cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), tacrolimus (Prograf)
- A medication for HIV, saquinavir (Fortovase)
Milk, yogurt and other dairy products
Some antibiotics, especially some used for skin infections or acne, should not be mixed with milk or milk products. These drugs include tetracycline and doxycycline. Eating milk or milk products with these antibiotics can lower their effectiveness.
Bottom line: Don't take tetracycline or doxycycline one hour before or two hours after consuming milk or milk products. Also, ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that can decrease the effectiveness of these drugs.
Leafy greens and other foods high in vitamin K
Vitamin K plays a role in the complex process of blood clotting. Because of this, it's important to watch how much vitamin K you get in your diet when you are taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin). Some foods with lots of vitamin K include spinach and other leafy greens, kale, collards, and parsley. But don't stop eating these foods altogether. It's best to maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K in your diet.
Bottom line: The goal is to try to take in about the same amount of vitamin K every day. If you change your eating patterns, you may need a medication adjustment, so always check with your doctor about the right foods for you.
Coffee, colas, tea, energy drinks and other foods with caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant. That means it causes your heart to beat faster and makes you more alert. Certain asthma medications also have stimulant affects. These medications include:
- Albuterol (AccuNeb, Proventil, Ventolin, ProAir)
- Theophylline (Theo-24, Uniphyl, Slo-Phyllin, Bronkodyl)
Bananas and other potassium-rich foods
Foods high in potassium are almost always good for you. They include bananas, oranges and many green leafy vegetables. People who take certain types of water pills, also called diuretics, are encouraged to eat plenty of them. These diuretics include:
- Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
- Bumetanide (Bumex)
- Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
- Furosemide (Lasix)
- Eplerenone (Inspra)
- Spironolactone (Aldactone)
- Triamterene (Dyrenium), which is also found in Dyazide, and Maxzide
The final bottom line
Many foods interact with medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. To cut your risk for interactions:
- Be sure to read the prescription label on every container.
- Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about everything you're taking, including supplements.
Health
It is always advisable to consult a dietician if you are on medication. As Mentioned eating/Drinking might cause chemical reaction with the medicines.
Thanks Dear,
You are right. This blog is for generating the awareness about health hold problems of the common peoples.
Thanks again for valuable comments and hope you'll continue the blog visits.
Regards.
Kashif
It would be lot easier for the doctors to give medication, if you explain them about your daily food habits & routines.