February 2005
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Dangerous liaisons: Prescription drugs, some foods don't mix
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Taking prescription drugs? Some over-the-counter remedies, herbal therapies--even vegetables and fruit juices may clash with your doctor's prescription if you're not careful.
"Patients are often unaware that complications can arise when prescription medications are combined with other drugs and certain foods," said Addison Taylor, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, pharmacology, and molecular physiology and biophysics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). "It is important for these individuals to alert their health care provider of their dietary patterns and of any additional medications they are taking."
According to Taylor, also chief of the section of hypertension and clinical pharmacology at BCM, complications generally occur for two reasons:
- The combination of drugs interferes with the body's protective mechanisms, therefore offsetting one of the drug's beneficial effects.
- Certain substances impede the body's ability to metabolize a drug, causing the medication to rise to potentially toxic levels, or decrease to the point where it is no longer beneficial.
The fact that foods can cause adverse effects may be surprising to some, but Taylor says that these complications are a serious reality. For example, the body's ability to metabolize certain antidepressant medications can be impaired by drinking too much grapefruit juice. Furthermore, the vitamin K in spinach and other leafy vegetables can offset the effects of certain blood thinning medications.
To prevent dangerous drug interactions, Taylor recommends the following:
- Do not keep medications past their expiration date. Drugs can lose their potency
or become toxic after a certain period of time. - Read the label and patient information brochures that accompany prescription drugs.
- Inform your healthcare provider of any additional medications, herbal or nutritional supplements that you are taking, as well as your dietary patterns.
"Pharmacists have at their disposal programs that allow them to view potential interactions between drugs," said Taylor. "However, if they do not know what medications you are taking, they can't advise you appropriately."
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