Foods and Drinks to Avoid if You Are on Medication
Certain foods and drinks can interfere with several kinds of prescription and nonprescription medications.
Natural chemicals or nutrients in foods or drinks can interfere with a medication, lessening its effectiveness or potentially having a stronger effect.
Foods or beverages also can affect the enzymes that break down, or metabolize, the medication in your body.
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As a result, the medication may stay in your body for too short or too long a time.
A medication that us broken down too quickly won’t have time to work. On the other hand, a medication that stays in the body too long may build up to potentially dangerous levels.
Here are some seven most common foods and drinks that can cause challenges when taking medication.
1. Grapefruit:
Grapefruit juice can interfere with several medications such as statins (used to lower cholesterol), blood pressure-lowering drugs, and some psychiatric drugs.
2 Alcohol:
Alcohol can interact with many medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, painkillers, sleeping pills, and antibiotics.
3. Dairy Products:
Dairy products such as milk and cheese can interfere with antibiotics such as tetracycline and ciprofloxacin.
4. Leafy Greens:
Leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain vitamin K which can interfere with blood thinners such as warfarin.
5. Caffeine:
Caffeine can interact with some medications such as antibiotics and bronchodilators.
6. Chocolate And Sleeping, Depression, And Anxiety Pills.
Dark chocolate, in particular, might reduce the effectiveness of medications used to relax or induce sleep, such as zolpidem tartrate (Ambien) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) for those with hyperactivity. If you take a MAO inhibitor, which is used to treat depression with chocolate, it can cause dangerously high blood pressure.
7. Fruit Juice And Most Drugs.
Apple or orange juice can decrease levels of beta-blockers like Tenormin and Tekturna which prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
