Depending on the medications you are taking, certain foods and drinks are not recommended, here is the list.
- Grapefruit juice is not recommended if taking statins or anticoagulants.
- Leafy vegetables like collard greens, spinach and Brussels sprouts should be avoided with blood thinners.
- Alcohol is not recommended when taking antidepressants, painkillers and diabetes medications.
We don’t always think about it, but taking medications is often linked to diet. Indeed, as recalled by Vidalwhat we eat “can have multiple effects on the action of drugs. Conversely, certain medications can reduce the absorption of nutrients.”It is therefore important to know the links between the two, depending on the medications you take. Overview of the main contraindications.
Foods to avoid with certain medications
The first thing to pay attention to is the conditions under which the drug should be taken. For some, it is on an empty stomach, for others a little before, during or after a meal.
The first major contraindication is grapefruit juice and statins, medications to reduce cholesterol levels in order to limit the risk of cardiovascular events. According to Vidal, grapefruit juice interacts with two statins: simvastatin and atorvastatin. If consumed, patients are exposed to the risk of overdose and an increase in the adverse effects of these two statins. But all other citrus fruits are allowed.
The catch anticoagulants aims to prevent clots from forming in blood vessels. They are prescribed in several situations, notably for people with atrial fibrillation, who have suffered a heart attack or those suffering from heart disease.
According to the foundation Heart + Strokeit’s necessary “Avoid large portions of dark leafy vegetables, for example collard greens, collard greens or beet greens, spinach and Brussels sprouts.” As noted health insurance, they contain vitamin K which impacts blood clotting and can therefore influence the effectiveness of medications. It is also not recommended to take the pill at the same time as grapefruit juice.
Two medications should not be taken with dairy products: the antibiotics tetracyclines (for respiratory and urinary tract infections) and quinolones (for severe bacterial infections). According to the MSD Manualtetracycline and omadacycline (two tetracycline antibiotics) should be taken on an empty stomach with plenty of water, because foods, especially dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream, reduce its absorption.
Coffee and alcohol, two drinks not recommended
Another contraindication, much better known this time: alcohol. These drinks should be avoided with antidepressants, diabetes medications and painkillers because there may be serious health risks such as liver damage or drowsiness.
Finally, last contraindication: coffee, not to be mixed with antipsychotics, which help relieve the symptoms of people suffering from psychoses such as depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Here again, mixing with coffee prevents the drug from being properly absorbed and can have an impact on the patient’s heart health.
Regardless of the medication you are taking, always remember to ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any contraindications to taking it safely.
