How can I avoid food and drug interactions

"We seldom think of food or beverages causing adverse drug reactions, however, some drug-food combinations can be dangerous," explains Roy Upton, MD, who practices internal medicine at Baptist Medical Associates.

Two of the most common foods that can cause problems are grapefruit and dairy products. Grapefruit juice blocks the enzymes that metabolize certain drugs, which in effect makes the drug much more potent than it should be. Dairy products can lessen the effectiveness of certain antiobiotics (Tetracycline).

Avoidance of drug interactions does not necessarily mean avoiding drugs or foods. In the case of Tetracycline and dairy products, these should simply be taken at different times.

Some of the most dangerous adverse drug reactions result in a drop or increase in blood pressure or a fast-paced, irregular heartbeat. More common symptoms include nausea, headache, heartburn or dizziness. Call your doctor if you experience any reaction that seems out of the ordinary to you.

To minimize the chances of an adverse drug reaction, Dr. Upton suggests you:

• Tell your doctor about everything you are taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins and herbal supplements.
• Be sure you get a consumer information sheet with your prescriptions and read it carefully.
• Read the labels on OTC medications, paying special attention to the "Warnings" section.
• Before taking a new OTC medication, vitamin or herbal supplement, ask your pharmacist if there are any potential drug interactions with the prescriptions you take.