Food Medication Interactions
Food medication interactions occur when the food you eat interferes with the way your medication is supposed to work. Some interactions can have a harmful effect by changing how the medicines work or worsening its side effects.
Food Medication Interactions can
- Prevent a medication from working the way it should.
- Worsen or lessen a side effect of a medication.
- Lead to a new side effect.
- Change the way your body uses a food because of the medication.
Common Foods with Medication Interactions
Calcium-Rich Foods: Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese can interfere with certain medications, including antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline and ciprofloxacin.
These antibiotics may bind to the calcium in milk, forming a substance in the stomach the body is unable to absorb.
Pickled, Cured, and Fermented Foods: These foods contain tyramine, a naturally occurring compound, which has been associated with a dangerous increase in blood pressure among patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAIOs) and certain medications for Parkinson’s disease. Some common tyramine containing foods include aged cheeses, sauerkraut and pickled vegetables such as cucumbers, beets and peppers.
Vitamin K-Rich Foods: Foods high in vitamin K such as kale, spinach and other leafy greens are vital for production of blood clotting factors that help prevent bleeding. However, patients taking a blood thinner medication, such as warfarin, should consult their health professional to maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K and avoid disturbing the blood thinner’s effect.
Alcohol: Patients should always be wary of mixing any medication with alcohol, but some interactions are more serious than others such as drinking alcohol while on a medication stimulant. The effect of alcohol while taking a stimulant could cause the patient to underestimate how intoxicated they are.
Grapefruit and Grapefruit Juice: Patients should avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking some medications, in particular, statins.
Chemicals in grapefruit cause an increase in medication potency by interacting with the stomach and liver. This interaction partially turns off several medications under normal circumstances. An example is consuming grapefruit juice while taking cholesterol or blood-pressure medication. This might result in the drug staying in the bloodstream longer and making the patient experience more side effects.
Medication on a Full or Empty Stomach
Some medications can work faster, slower, better or worse when you take them on a full or empty stomach. Some medicines will upset your stomach, and if there is food in your stomach, that can help reduce the upset.
Always read the medication label or check with a health professional to see if it’s best to take a medication on a full or empty stomach.
Discussing Interactions with our Healthcare Provider
Not all medications interact with food, and not every interaction means you must stop taking one of your medications or consuming a particular food. Always consult with a healthcare provider or pharmacist about how medication interactions can be managed with your diet before making any changes to your current medication. Find additional resources on avoiding drug interactions here.