Food and Medication Interactions
by
Jill Shuman, MS, RD, ELS
Most of us have heard that certain medications, when taken together, can be potentially harmful. But what about food and medication? What possible harm could come from eating a cheese sandwich after taking an antibiotic? You may be surprised to learn that certain foods can dramatically affect your medications. Knowing how and when to take your medications can eliminate or reduce interactions between food and drugs. Your pharmacist and your doctor can provide you with the most up-to-date information about these interactions. Take this quick quiz to check your knowledge of food and drug interactions. True or False?Answer true or false for each of the following 8 questions.
How Did You Do?–The Answers1.
Medication should always be taken with meals—
False 2.
Only prescription drugs interact with food and drinks.—
False 3.
It's safe to take my medications with a glass of milk—
False 4.
I take
high blood pressure
medication. Therefore, I should use a potassium-containing salt substitute—
False 5.
Mineral oil is a harmless, gentle laxative—
False 6.
Any pharmacy can fill my prescriptions—
True 7.
Grapefruit juice is a harmless, healthy source of
vitamin C
—
False Other Food and Drug IssuesIn addition to food and drug interactions, certain medications also affect taste, sensation, and appetite. For example, penicillin can give foods an unpleasant taste. Antihistamines and certain antidepressants can cause dry mouth, making it hard to chew and swallow. Certain pain medications and iron supplements are a frequent cause of constipation. How do you know when and how medications should be taken? Read the directions printed on the container and ask your doctor or pharmacist. Food and drug interactions are almost always avoidable or manageable. To keep food-drug interactions at a minimum, follow these tips:
RESOURCES:Food Safety—US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.foodsafety.gov US Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Institutes of Health Research
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca Health Canada
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...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated February 24, 2016. Accessed March 1, 2016. Avoid food-drug interactions. National Consumer League website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed March 1, 2016. Drug interactions: What you should know. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated September 25, 2013. Accessed March 1, 2016. Metronidazole. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated February 9, 2016. Accessed March 1, 2016. Mineral oil. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated February 9, 2016. Accessed March 1, 2016. Statins. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated September 1, 2015. Accessed March 1, 2016. Tetracycline. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated February 9, 2016. Accessed March 1, 2016. Last reviewed March 2016 by Michael Woods, MD
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