DRUG INTERACTIONS III - DRUG-FOOD INTERACTIONS

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This is the last part of drug interactions. The food we eat can also interact with drugs that we use and can reduce the effectiveness of the drugs or cause serious health complications. Have you ever wondered why you can't take milk with some drugs? To those of you that prefers to take drugs with coke instead of water, this session is for you. But let us start from the basics by defining what food is? I know, I know what's on your mind. You know what food is but I will define it anyway. 😁

WHAT IS FOOD?
Yes, you already know what food is. You've probably eaten like 2 times today.
Food is what people and animals eat. It's what you and me eat. Food is usually of plant or animal origin. Infact, food is any substance that can be consumed by a living thing to provide energy and nutrition. Food is important to life. So we must make sure to always eat good food!

WHAT IS DRUG-FOOD INTERACTION?

Drug-food interaction is a situation when the effectiveness of a drug is affected due to presence of a food item. It occurs when the food we eat and the drugs we take interfere with one another. This could lead to the drug being ineffective or toxic. Not all drugs react with food though. While some drugs are not to be taken with certain and some drugs works in the presence of food, some drugs are to be used on empty stomach. Below is a list of dangerous drug-food interactions.

SOME FOOD DRUGS INTERACTION

.1. Milk: Milk is good for the body and is an excellent source of Vitamin D. But you shouldn't take milk when you are using antibiotics. Milk contains minerals of which one of them is calcium. Calcium in milk makes it difficult for the body to absorb antibiotics. This leads to a reduction in the effect of antibiotics.

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.2. Grapefruit: This delicious citrus fruit which is a component of most fruit juices can pose a serious health threat if it is taken with antihypertensives, asthma drugs and medication for blood pressure. Grapefruit can change the effect of drugs like antihistamines and birth control medications. It changes the way your body metabolized these drugs leading to the drug having different effect from the intended therapeutic effect. These effects can be severe and can cause health complications.
Now that you know that there are drugs that react with fruit juice, always take your drugs with water.

.3. Green leafy vegetables: They are good for your body and they are rich in vitamin K. You should take lots of them. But you should watch your intake of green leafy vegetables when you are taking a blood thinning medication like warfarin. Warfarin works by blocking the formation of vitamin K. So if you ate taking a lot of vegetables(which is rich in vitamin K) while using warfarin, it leads to reduction in the effectiveness of the drug.
You don't have to stop taking your vegetables while using warfarin. Just take it in consistent amount. If you are the type that doesn't eat vegetables before, don't suddenly eat large amounts of them.

.4. Black licorice : You know black licorice is delicious(if you've taken it before). The main ingredient of black licorice is glycyrhizza which lowers the body's potassium level. Blood pressure medications also works by lowering the body's potassium level. Combining black licorice and a blood pressure medication can lead to the body's potassium levels dropping to dangerous levels. This can cause an irregular heartbeat. Therefore don't take black licorice if you are taking blood pressure medications.

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.5. Bananas: I love bananas. I bet you do too. This delicious fruit is an excellent source of potassium. Normally, potassium is good for you but can pose serious threat if combined with diuretics like furosemide. It can also cause heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat if taken with ACE inhibitors like lisinopril.

And that's a wrap. The list goes on and is inexhaustible. Whenever you are given a new medicine+ whether it is a prescription medicine or over the counter medicine), you should ask your doctor or pharmacist about other drugs or food you should not use with the medicine. Always read the warning labels on the medicines.
Also report to your doctor if you don't feel better or start to feel worse after taking s new medicine. Take all medicine with water unless your doctors tell you otherwise. Do not remove capsules from medicines or dissolve them in drinks(to mask their taste). .

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REFERENCES
Edrugsearch
Eatright

NINIHORLAH(Knower Of Nothing)