Five common food-drug interactions to avoid

Most people are conscious to eat well while taking drugs since a lot of medications are recommended not to be taken on an empty stomach. But what many do not know is that certain foods can interact negatively with some types of medication when taken simultaneously.

Without further ado, here are some food and drug interactions that should be avoided.

Dairy and antibiotics

If you’re taking antibiotics, do not wash down your pills with a glass of milk. Calcium present in dairy products such as milk and cheese can affect the absorption of iron supplements in some antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and quinolone, reducing the circulation of these drugs in your system. A study showed that the absorption of ciprofloxacin was reduced by 36 percent when taken with milk. Now, what would be the point of taking medication when its absorption is being reduced?

Banana and blood pressure/heart medication

Although bananas are usually recommended in a healthy diet due to its high concentration of potassium, you could end up with too much potassium if you eat bananas when taking medication like lisinopril or captopril which are used to treat high blood pressure. Bananas and other foods high in potassium when taken with these types of medication can cause the body to retain excess potassium that would normally be flushed out by the kidneys.

Alcohol and drugs

Many medications come with instructions not to drink alcohol while you’re taking them, and that warning is very important. Alcohol, when taken alone, can cause some harm. Now taken with medication, alcohol can do quite some damage. Apart from causing effects like headaches, nausea, and vomiting, alcohol can make certain medications less effective or even toxic.

Caffeinated foods and asthma medication

One thing many people do not know or sometimes forget is that caffeine is a drug too. According to a report, caffeine can interact with asthma medication, and boost its effect, causing it to seem like a higher dose has been taken. It is therefore advised that caffeine be completely avoided when taking asthma medication.

Grape juice and statins

Statins are drugs used to lower cholesterol. According to a report by the US food and drug administration (FDA), if you drink a lot of grapefruit juice while taking certain statin drugs, too much of the drug may stay in your body, increasing your risk for liver and muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure. It is, therefore, advisable to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice consumption when taking statins.