lf you`re fqking rhis drug, don`t eql fhot

ilrug$ondHerbs'"
o
lf you're fqking rhis
Whot con hoppen: All of those foods
are rich in the amino acid tyramine,
drug, don't eql fhot
Some foods-even goodJor-you ones-con interfere
with how certoin medicotions work
I ating some otherwise wholesome foods while taking certain brand-name and
I generic drugs can lead to unpleasant, or even dangerous, side effects. Below is a
L [rt of ri* common foods and drinks that are known to cause potential problems.
To get the most accurate information for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist about
any possible food interactions with the medicines that you take.
which, when consumedin large amounts
with this class of drugs, can lead to dangerously high blood pressure. Tyraminerich foods include salami and certain
cheeses, as well as avocados, chocolate,
and red wine.
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Don'l mix with tetrocycline
onribiorics (Sunrycin).
Wlrot con hoppen:
The drug's efflectiveness can be reduced.
KAIE AND
The problem: Calci-
ACE inhibibrs taken to
lower blood pressure or treat heart failure, and certain diuretics to reduce fluid
retention and treat high blood pressure.
Whct con hoppen: Irregular heartbeat
and palpitations.
OTHER GREENS
Don't mix with
um
wqr{orin (Coumadinl,
a potent blood thinner used
to prevent strokes and other problems
and cheese-as well as calcium supple-
The problem: Taking ACE inhibitors
Whot con hoppen: The drug's
and "potassium sparing" diuretics can
lead to higher levels ofpotassium in the
tiveness can be reduced.
BANANAS
Don'l mix wi*r
body. When those drugs are combined
with large amounts of potassiumrich bananas, the excess potassium can cause heart problems. ,lt
in that mineral
_
t
should be
caused by clots.
Tlre poblem: Kale and other
effec-
(including broccoli and brussels sprouts)
are rich in vitamin K, which helps the
blood to clot, thus working against warfarin's anti-clotting effects. The good news:
Theret no need to drop the green veggies
from your diet; just dont overdo them.
PICKLED, SMOKED, CURED,
AND
Don'tmixwith
Don'f mix with monoomine oxidose
choleslerol-
inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil)
FER'VIENTED FOODS
and selegiline (Emsam) used for depression or Parkinson's disease.
as
ments and calcium-fortified foods-can
interfere with the body's ability to absorb
tetracycline-type antibiotics. In general,
tetracycline works better if taken t hour
before or 2 hours after eating.
GRAPEFRUIT
lor,vering
milh yogurt,
greens
eaten in moderation.
stslins such
in dairy foods
such as
WALNUTS AND
HIGH.FIBER
FOODS
Don't mix with
levothyroxine
(Lxothrcid, Levot<yl,Synrhroid|
used
in
the treatment of an underactive thyroid.
Whql cqn hoppen: Foods such as walnuts, soybean flour, and cottonseed meal
might make thyroid meds less effective.
So can eating a high-fiber diet or taking
fiber supplements. If you eat a high-fiber
diet, you might need a higher dosage. I
atorvastatin
(Lipitor) and lovastatin (Mevacor).
Whot con hoppen:
Increased risk
of
side effects, especially muscle pain.
The problem: A substance in grapefruit
juice prevents certain statin drugs from
being metabolized, leading to higher
amounts of the drug in the bloodstream.
Drinking more than I quart of grapefruit
juice per day can result in dangerous levels. Whole grapefruit and grapefruit juice
can interfere with other drugs, too, including certain antihistamines and some
Pqy ottention to those qlcohol wornings
At holidoy iime, when porties ore plentiful, it con be difficult not to
indulge. But be owore thot mony medicotions come with instructions
nat la lrinL
DECEMBER
2ol4
.
.-hilo rr^r,'.o lalina +ham ll'c an imnnrlanl warnina
Alcohol olone con moke you drowsy, light-heoded, ond less
coordinoted; when it's mixed with certoin drugs, those effects con be
mognified. Even worse, certoin drug-olcohol combos con increose
the chonce of serious side effects, such qs internol bleeding, difficulty
breothing, ond heori problems. And though olcohol might moke o
drug less effective, il con olso moke it toxic. For exomple, lust o few
drinks mixed with ocetominophen (Tylenol) con domoge your liver.
prescribed for blood pressure.
lO .
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Consumer Reports on Heolth
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