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Oil and water. Toothpaste and orange juice. Some things just don’t go together. While you’re not likely to get seriously ill from downing a glass of OJ right after brushing your teeth, other seemingly safe combinations can be harmful. For example, nutritious foods and prescription medications seem like a match made in healthful heaven, right? Not necessarily. According to board-certified family physician and chief medical officer of Vireo Health, Stephen Dahmer, M.D., food and drinks can affect how much of a medication is absorbed and how quickly it is metabolized by the body. These food-drug interactions can render a prescription ineffective or increase its absorption and the risk of dangerous side effects. Dahmer explains some common food-drug interactions that seniors and caregivers should be aware of below. 5 Foods That Can Trigger Food-Drug Interactions
Manage Medications ResponsiblyAny time a doctor adds a medication to your regimen, inform them of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and dietary supplements you are already taking to ensure everything fulfills its intended purpose and to minimize the possibility of adverse reactions. You don’t always have to swear off a particular type of food just because it may interact with your medications. To explore how specific medicines interact with common foods, other drugs, alcohol and even herbal supplements, use the drug interactions checker on Drugs.com. Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have about how your diet or lifestyle may impact your prescription drug regimen. He or she may be able to recommend alternative medications that do not require dietary restrictions. Be sure to thoroughly read the labels and inserts that come with all medications to learn what foods and drinks to avoid (if any) and whether they should be taken with food or on an empty stomach. If you need to review a medication insert, visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) website to search their extensive medication guide database. Lastly, Dahmer offers one more tip to family caregivers and seniors alike: Take medications with plenty of water to help aid absorption and reduce stomach upset. Related Articles
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Can people with high blood pressure drink orange juice?Key Takeaways
Thanks to a naturally-occurring flavonoid, orange juice may be a good choice to help lower blood pressure, new research shows.
What medications should not be taken with orange juice?As time goes on, more evidence appears that orange juice negatively affects the absorption of many medicines. These drugs include blood-pressure lowering meds, including the beta-blockers atenolol, celiprolol and talinolol.
Do oranges interfere with blood pressure medication?People taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs should limit their intake of high-potassium foods like bananas, oranges, avocados, tomatoes, white and sweet potatoes and dried fruits —, especially apricots.
What should you not take with blood pressure medicine?Some common types of OTC medicines you may need to avoid include:. Decongestants, such as those that contain pseudoephedrine.. Pain medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.. Cold and influenza medicines. ... . Some antacids and other stomach medicines. ... . Some natural health products.. |