Drug to Food Interactions

Lanoxin (digoxin) is used to strengthen the contraction of the heart muscle, slow the heart rate, and promote elimination of fluid from body tissues. ________________ can slow the absorption of digoxin, and lessen its effectiveness. To prevent this, take digoxin 1 hour before, or 2 hours after eating.

• Foods rich in vitamin K (green leafy vegetables) intake should be consistent

• Ginseng

• Foods high in fiber (like wheat bran)

• St. John’s Wort

Warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner to prevent blood clots can have decreased effectiveness from __________________.

• Foods rich in vitamin K (green leafy vegetables) Intake should be consistent

• Ginseng

• Foods high in fiber (like wheat bran)

• St. John’s Wort

Statins are used to lower cholesterol. ________________________ can increase the amount of some statins in your blood and lead to greater side effects like muscle soreness, abnormal liver panels (blood test). This can happen with Zocor (lovastatin), milder with Lipitor (atorvastatin). This is not an issue with Pravachol (pravastatin).

• Alcohol

• Grapefruit/ grapefruit juice, tangelos, pomelos, Seville oranges, citrus marmalade (jelly)

• Dairy products

• Iodine Rich Foods

___________________can increase or prolong the effects of insulin or oral diabetic agents causing hypoglycemia. This can last for 12 hours and have symptoms like nervousness, sweating, trembling, intense hunger, weakness, palpitations, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, flushing, nausea, and coma.

• Alcohol

• Grapefruit/ grapefruit juice, tangelos, pomelos, Seville oranges, citrus marmalade (jelly)

• Dairy Products

• Iodine Rich Foods

Calcium Channel Blockers are given for hypertension. If taken with _________________ it can cause excessively high levels of the drug.

• Alcohol

• Grapefruit/ grapefruit juice, tangelos, pomelos, Seville oranges, citrus marmalade (jelly)

• Dairy Products

• Iodine Rich Foods

Tylenol (acetaminophen) should not be taken with ________________. It can cause liver toxicity.

• Grapefruit/ grapefruit juice, tangelos, pomelos, Seville oranges, citrus marmalade (jelly)

• Alcohol

• Iodine Rich Foods

• Dairy Products

It is not proven, but is suspected that __________________ gives a boost to levels of drugs for erectile dysfunction like Viagra (sildenafil). Side effects are headaches symptomatic of fatal or near fatal conditions, flushing, low blood pressure.

• Alcohol

• Grapefruit/ grapefruit juice, tangelos, pomelos, Seville oranges, citrus marmalade (jelly)

• Iodine Rich Foods

• Dairy Products

Taking antibiotics like tetracyclines and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) with _____________ can delay or prevent absorption because the two react forming an insoluble compound. To avoid this, take these types of antibiotics one hour before meals, or 2 hours after meals.

• Tyramine-containing foods like red wine, malt beer, smoked fish, aged cheeses, dried fruits

• Alcohol

• Dairy Products

• Iodine Rich Foods

Antithyroid drugs are used to treat hyperthyroidism. __________________ can make it more difficult for the drugs to work, requiring a higher dose of the drug. Higher dose of antithyroid drug can lead to side effects like rashes, hives, and liver disease.

• Iodine Rich foods

• Tyramine-containing foods like red wine, malt beer, smoked fish, aged cheeses, dried fruits

• Dairy Products

• Alcohol

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are an older type of antidepressant that is still prescribed, but not as often because of serious side effects. Taking MAOIs with _______ can cause hypertensive crisis.

• Iodine Rich Foods

• Alcohol

• Dairy Products

• Tyramine-containing foods like red wine, malt beer, smoked fish, aged cheeses, dried fruits