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It may come as a surprise that sometimes food and drug interactions can react poorly when utilized at the same time – here is what you should know.
It is a common part of life that, as we age, we tend to depend more and more on the assistance of pharmaceuticals to keep our bodies running smoothly. Unless you are fond of reading the tiny print that comes packaged with your pills, you may be unaware that some of the foods you are eating can negate – or even make dangerous – the medications you are using.
Food and Drug Interactions to Avoid
When a food reacts negatively to a medication that you are using, that is called a food and drug interaction. The following are some of the medications and supplements which come with specific food warnings. Next time you speak with your prescribing doctor, be sure to ask about any potential food interactions that may apply to your, specific, medication regimen.
1. Digoxin and Fiber
We are told that a breakfast of oatmeal is good for the heart, but this may not be the case if you are a person who is prescribed digoxin for heart regulation. Fiber interferes with the absorption levels of digoxin into the bloodstream, which means that the life-saving effect of the drug is decreased. It is generally recommended that you limit your intake of fiber while taking this medication, or that you time your fiber intake to be spaced apart from the time that you take your digoxin medication.
2. Sildenafil and Grapefruit
If you are utilizing erectile dysfunction (ED) medication, think twice before you sip that grapefruit cocktail during a romantic night out. Up to 40% of men over 40 struggle with ED, and that percentage increases with each decade of age. For many of these men, taking ED medication becomes the fix for the problem. The sildenafil in erectile dysfunction medications works by relaxing blood vessels. Eating or drinking grapefruit can contribute to an increase in the levels of these drugs in the blood stream, and can result in side effects such as headaches and dangerously low blood pressure.
3. Calcium and Antibiotics
Many of us are aware that discovery of antibiotics revolutionized our ability to treat illnesses and infection. However, there are many foods you should eat while taking antibiotics, and others that you should avoid. What many are not aware of is the fact that ingesting calcium can interfere with the ability of antibiotics to do their job, creating food and drug interactions that can lead to negative consequences. Antibiotics are absorbed into the body through the gut lining. Calcium coats the antibiotics while in the digestive tract, making it difficult for the body to absorb them. Don’t let your nightly glass of milk stand between you and your ability to recover from infection.
4. Antithyroid Drugs and Iodine
More than one out of a hundred people in this country have the problem of an overactive thyroid. For many of these folks, medications such as methimazole and propylthiouracil become lifesavers. These drugs inhibit the amount of thyroxine that the thyroid produces, and prevent the body from absorbing iodine. Introducing excessive iodine into the mix through eating high-iodine foods – such as seafood – can result in an iodine overload. Side effects of too much iodine in the body include liver problems, rashes, and hives.
5. Tyramine and MAOIs
For those suffering from depression, certain medications prescribed may require careful food planning. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) keep the body from breaking down the brain’s natural feel-good chemicals, and it does this through blocking the production of tyramine. Adding excess tyramine to the diet – such as through consuming aged cheese, preserved meats, or beer – while simultaneously taking MAOIs can result in dangerously high blood pressure levels.
6. Vitamin K and Warfarin
Vitamin K supplements are recommended for those who are in need of better blood clotting capabilities. Warfarin is a blood thinner, which is typically prescribed to those who have experienced dangerous instances of blood clotting. As apparent, these two factors are utterly at odds. People who are taking prescription blood thinners would do well to consult with a doctor about the risks of high intake of vitamin K.
7. Bananas and ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are prescribed to help with reducing blood pressure and relieve strain on the heart. ACE inhibitors also increase the levels of potassium that are in the body. The high levels of of potassium in foods such as bananas can be a dangerous addition. When combined with the already-increased levels of potassium produced by the ACE inhibitors, adding too much potassium-rich food to your diet can cause heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat.
8. Grapefruit and Statins
The delicious and nutritious grapefruit strikes again when it comes to those who rely on statins to reduce cholesterol. Like with the ED medications, grapefruit can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb the effects of the statin medication. The inability to metabolize the medication means that there is a risk of too much statin building up in the blood stream, which can result in side effects that range from muscle pain to kidney failure.
9. Insulin and Alcohol
When it comes to dangerous interactions between what we are consuming and what medications we are taking, alcohol tops the list of things to be wary of. In regard to the insulin medication that those with diabetes rely upon, alcohol can interfere with its ability to regulate the body’s blood sugar levels. Alcohol not only prevents the body from naturally regulating insulin, it can eventually render the insulin medication ineffective.
10. Alcohol and Stimulants
The undesirable effects of alcohol continue when it comes to taking stimulants, such as those prescribed for ADHD. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it works to slow the body responses down. Stimulants do the opposite, and increase the body’s ability to stay on alert. Consuming a depressant and a stimulant at the same time does not mean that they cancel each other out. Instead, the body can react to the confusion by shutting down cognitive and physical functions.
11. Acetaminophen and Alcohol
Alcohol primarily impacts liver function. While the liver is busy breaking down the alcohol, it is unable to attend to the other tasks at hand. Acetaminophen does its pain relieving work after being broken down in the liver. If the liver is too busy with the alcohol to attend to the acetaminophen, dangerous levels of this over-the-counter drug can build up. The result can be fatal, such as with liver failure.
Conclusion
These food and drug interactions can lead to health problems and cause a dangerous reaction. If you have questions about potential food and drug interactions, contact your local pharmacy today!
