Acidic drinks, such as fruit juice
or soda pop, may chemically destroy certain kinds of antibiotics, including
penicillin and erythromycin. Grapefruit
juice alone negatively interacts with more than 50 medications, including
statins which are widely used to lower cholesterol. And since the effects of the citrus juice
last more than 24 hours, simply taking your meds at a different time won’t
solve the problem.
Milk can interfere with a number
of medicines. For example, milk blocks
the action of tetracycline if both are ingested within an hour of each other,
preventing the treatment of infection.
Milk is alkaline so, for example, if it is taken with Ducolax (laxative)
which has a coating designed to dissolve slowly in the intestines, it may
dissolve prematurely within the stomach and cause irritation. Calcium in any dairy products can interfere
with the effectiveness of thyroid medication.
Caffeine from coffee, tea or
energy drinks can pose a serious health threat when taken with stimulants such
as ephedrine, amphetamines or asthma prescriptions. Green tea (with vitamin K) can decrease the
effect of blood thinners such as Warfarin and Coumadin. The tannin in tea can undo the benefits of
iron pills.
Sports drinks such as Gatorade are
high in potassium and can be dangerous when coupled with some heart failure or
hypertension drugs.
Energy drinks high in sugar and
stimulants such as caffeine aren’t good for anybody, but combining them with
antidepressants can cause hypertension, headaches, fast heart rate and even
stroke. Some drinks add things like
ginkgo biloba for enhancement, but ginkgo biloba taken with aspirin can cause
bleeding.
Of course alcohol presents one of the
most common interactions. Beer, wine and
hard liquor should be avoided when taking just about any type of medication,
especially antidepressants or other drugs that effect the brain. Mixing alcohol with over the counter
anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers can increase your risk of stomach bleeding
or liver damage.
The very best beverage to take
your medication with is WATER! It will
not interact with your medication or reduce its effectiveness!
What can you do to prevent drug interactions?
1) Read the label of your medication thoroughly to verify how you should take your medication and heed any warnings. If you have any questions, talk with your pharmacist and doctor.
2) Make a complete list of all your prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and any other drugs you may take. Review this list with your doctor and pharmacists.
3) Use one pharmacy. This way your pharmacist has a record of all your prescriptions and can advise you effectively.
4) Do some research on your medications.
1) Read the label of your medication thoroughly to verify how you should take your medication and heed any warnings. If you have any questions, talk with your pharmacist and doctor.
2) Make a complete list of all your prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and any other drugs you may take. Review this list with your doctor and pharmacists.
3) Use one pharmacy. This way your pharmacist has a record of all your prescriptions and can advise you effectively.
4) Do some research on your medications.
a) Walgreens
has a great drug vs drug interaction tool since it offers correct dosage
options that other tools do not. www.walgreens.com/pharmacy/checkdruginteractions
b) www.drugs.com offers a complete A-Z index on over
24,000 medications in the USA. For
example, searching “Coumadin” provided pill and injection information, side
effects, news regarding Coumadin, and further down the page was “Coumadin drug
interactions”. Clicking on that provided
a wealth of interactions specific to Coumadin, including the “5 alcohol/food
interactions”.
Finding drug vs beverage interactions is a bit more difficult than drug vs food, and far more difficult than finding drug vs drug interactions. The information is out there, you just have to be persistent and dig deeper. Live well and be well!
Finding drug vs beverage interactions is a bit more difficult than drug vs food, and far more difficult than finding drug vs drug interactions. The information is out there, you just have to be persistent and dig deeper. Live well and be well!
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