Thursday, April 7, 2016

Food and meds you shouldn't mix

Some foods can prevent prescription medication from working. They also have dangerous side-effects. Here's what to watch out for:

COFFEE

Avoid if you take -Bronchodilators for asthma
These help patients to breathe more easily by relaxing the muscles in the lungs and widening airways. Common side effects of these include palpitations, nervousness and excitability. When mixed with caffeine these risks are increased.Too much caffeine can also limit their effectiveness in an emergency, so speak to your GP if you are taking them but need caffeine too.

BANANAS

Avoid if you take -Blood pressure medicines
Bananas are high in potassium, a good thing, but for those taking medication like Captopril, ACE inhibitors or Angiotensin receptor blockers, avoid large quantities of potassium-rich food like leafy greens and oranges too. Mixed with these drugs, these foods can cause high potassium levels.When consumed in excess, it can also cause irregular heartbeats and palpitations. It's best to inform your GP if you're taking potassium or diuretics alongside blood pressure medication.

ALCOHOL

Avoid if you take -Antihistamines, diabetes medicines or painkillers
Medicines often come with a warning to avoid alcohol. This is due to the pressure booze puts on your liver. Alcohol, paracetamol and codeine are metabolised by the liver and it will have to work harder to break down alcohol and medications at the same time. This can increase the risk of side effects from the medications, including drowsiness. Also, overworking your liver can eventually increase your risk of liver damage.

LEAFY GREENS


Avoid if you take -Anticoagulants

Leafy greens are part of a healthy diet but when you're taking antiblood-clotting medicines, like Warfarin, you need to be careful not to suddenly up your leafy green intake. They are high in vitamin K and as a result, help blood to clot. Warfarin is designed to prevent the production of vitamin K so if you suddenly eat more greens, this will interfere with the medicine.

BLACK LIQUORICE


Avoid if you take -Heart medications

Liquorice lowers potassium in your body, which can be dangerous for those with certain heart conditions. Low levels of potassium can increase side effects associated with digoxin, used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Diuretics to treat high blood pressure, glaucoma, heart failure and liver and kidney problems, also lower potassium, so taken with liquorice they cause levels to fall.

This causes weakness, cramps and irregular heart rhythms.

GRAPEFRUIT


Avoid if you take -Statins

If you are taking statins to lower blood pressure, then grapefruit, or its juice, won't provide a healthy breakfast. Grapefruit contains a chemical that stops the body breaking down statins. This will lead to raised levels in your body which means you will be at risk of side-effects. Patients might experience muscle aches and pains as a result.

MILK


Avoid if you take -Antibiotics

Ciprofloxacin and tetracycline should be taken with a glass of water one hour before a meal or two hours after you have eaten.Food will interfere with the way these medications are absorbed by your body and dairy products, such as milk, will have the same effect. So while it might be tempting to take antibiotics with a glass of milk, don't.

Source : TOI 

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