Drug Safety Alert!
Do you know what common foods interact with the drugs that you take? You should–a mistake can be fatal
There are times when scarfing down a whole bowl of broccoli may be too much of a good thing. Or when your fresh idea to eat salads for lunch every day can leave behind more than just some spinach in your teeth. Or when an extra glass of wine with dinner could kill you.
Those foods interact with drugs for high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, and diabetes. In some cases, the food can interfere with your treatment, either by making the drug less effective or more powerful.
In other cases, the food/drug mix can trigger unwanted side effects. For example, high-potassium foods such as broccoli can interact with so-called potassium-sparing diuretics used to treat hypertension, causing excess potassium in the body, which, in turn, can cause an irregular heartbeat and palpitations.
In some cases, the mix can be fatal. People with diabetes who drink regularly and are also taking a blood glucose- lowering drug may be putting themselves at increased risk for developing high levels of lactic acid, which, in some cases, can be deadly.
Get Drug-Smart
The chart can help you avoid mixing the most common prescription drugs with foods that can cause problems.
The Trouble with Grapefruit Juice
Drinking grapefruit juice with some drugs can inhibit intestinal enzymes that help your body absorb the drugs. The result? The amount of medication that ultimately enters your system may be more or less than you really need, which could negatively affect your treatment. The best advice: When taking these drugs (see the chart at right), avoid grapefruit juice for at least 2 hours before and after ingesting them, and stick with plain water.
Foods and Drugs That Don’t Mix
Legend for Chart:
A - IF YOU HAVE…
B - ARE YOU TAKING*…
C - THEN STEER CLEAR OF…
D - WHAT COULD HAPPEN
A
B
C
D
Allergies, seasonal
Claritin, Zyrtec, or Allegra (antihistamines)
alcoholic beverages
May increase the drowsiness effect of the drug.
Congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillatien
Lanexin (digoxin)
meals high in bran fiber
Can reduce the amount of the drug that is absorbed.
Tip: Take this drug separately.
Depression
Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil (selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor [SSRI] antidepressants)
alcoholic beverages
May increase drowsiness and dizziness, and worsen symptoms.
In general, people who are depressed should avoid alcohol.
Diabetes
Glucophage or Glucotrol XL (to lower blood sugar)
alcoholic beverages
May prolong the risk of abnormally low blood sugar. For
Glucophage, it may also increase the risk of lactic
acidosis (high levels of lactic acid, which, in some
cases, can be fatal).
Erectile dysfunction
Viagra
high-fat meals
May slow the rate at which the drug is absorbed.
Tip: Take this drug separately.
Heart attack, atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis,
pulmonary embolism, or stroke
Coumadin (an anticoagulant)
varying amounts of foods high in vitamin K such as
turnip greens, broccoli, and green, leafy vegetables,
alcoholic beverages
High amounts of vitamin K decrease the drug’s effect,
whereas low amounts increase the drug’s effect. To keep
this drug working effectively, aim for consistent amounts
of vitamin K. Alcohol can increase the drug’s effect and
put you at risk of excessive bleeding.
Heartburn/gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Propulsid (a gastrointestinal stimulant)
grapefruit juice, alcoholic beverages
High blood pressure (hypertension) or congestive heart failure
Norvasc, Cardizem, Procardia, or Adalat (calcium channel
blockers) Zestril, Vasotec Accupril, Lotensin, or Prinivil
(ACE inhibitors)
grapefruit juice, salt substitutes containing potassium,
and large amounts of potassium-rich foods such as bananas,
green, leafy vegetables, and oranges
High cholesterol
Lipitor, Zocor, or Pravachol (HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitors or”statins”)
grapefruit juice, alcoholic beverages
Hypothyroidism
Synthroid (levothyroxine)
high-fiber diet; soy products, foods containing large
amounts of iodine, such as spinach, shellfish, saltwater
fish, and iodized salt
Fiber and soy products may decrease the amount of the
drug that is absorbed. Soy products may negatively affect
thyroid function. Iodine can affect thyroid hormone levels.
Tip: Aim for consistent amounts of iodine in your diet.
Insomnia
Ambien
alcoholic beverages
May increase the drowsiness effect of the drug or of
other drugs that help you fall asleep.
Osteoporosis
Fosamax
mineral water, orange juice, coffee, and tea;
high-fiber diet; soy products
These beverages can decrease the drug’s availability.
Tip: Take Fosamax with plain water.
* Prescription drugs are from among the top 60 brand-name prescription drugs sold in 1998. Source: Scott-Levin’s Source Prescription Audit, Newtown, PA. This listing of drugs is not comprehensive. If you are taking a different drug or a generic brand medication for any of these conditions, please see your doctor about possible interactions with foods.
Timing is what’s important. For best results, take Fosamax first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, with plain water only-not with any other beverage or food. Wait for 30 minutes before consuming anything. For more information about Fosamax, consult your doctor or pharmacist or visit Fosamax’s Web site at www.fosamax.com.
The same food and drug interaction chart also incorrectly lists the seasonal allergy drug Allegra among the medications that increase drowsiness when alcoholic beverages are consumed. There are no drowsiness side effects associated with taking Allegra. If you drink alcohol while taking Allegra, any feelings of drowsiness can be attributed to the alcohol. For more information about Allegra, consult your doctor or pharmacist or visit Allegra’s Web site at www.allegra.com.
Timing is what’s important. For best results, take Fosamax first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, with plain water only-not with any other beverage or food. Wait for 30 minutes before consuming anything. For more information about Fosamax, consult your doctor or pharmacist or visit Fosamax’s Web site at www.fosamax.com.
The same food and drug interaction chart also incorrectly lists the seasonal allergy drug Allegra among the medications that increase drowsiness when alcoholic beverages are consumed. There are no drowsiness side effects associated with taking Allegra. If you drink alcohol while taking Allegra, any feelings of drowsiness can be attributed to the alcohol. For more information about Allegra, consult your doctor or pharmacist or visit Allegra’s Web site at www.allegra.com.
