Drug - Food Interactions
What are drug-food interactions?
Prescription and nonprescription drugs can interact with foods in two different ways. What a person eats can affect the success of a drug regimen, and drug therapy can also alter a person's nutritional status.
The extent of specific food-drug interactions varies from person to person depending on age, drug dosage, gender, body size, and overall health. Caffeine and alcohol use also influence the intensity of food-drug interactions. In general, elderly people, children, and the malnourished or chronically ill are most susceptible to problems with certain combinations of diet and medication.
How do drug-food interactions affect the body?
Food usually either interferes with the way a drug is absorbed into the bloodstream or prolongs the time it takes for absorption to occur. Any food in the digestive tract may add to the time required for a medication to reach the walls of the small intestine, where the body absorbs it. Some foods actually prevent the gastrointestinal absorption of certain drugs, particularly antibiotics. To avoid this problem, take medication on an empty stomach. Conversely, if a medication such as aspirin causes stomach irritation, a person will tolerate it better if it is taken with food.
Drugs can also affect a person's appetite. Certain antidepressants and tranquilizers stimulate the appetite. Antibiotics or any medication that produces nausea and vomiting can have an anorexic effect, resulting in appetite loss.
Other drugs can interfere with the way the body absorbs certain nutrients. The list ranges from common medications sold over the counter, such as antacids, to oral contraceptives and a variety of prescription drugs taken for specific medical problems.
What can I do myself?
Always ask a doctor about drug-food interactions whenever a new drug is prescribed. Find out if there are any foods that should be avoided, whether the drug will affect appetite, and whether the drug should be take with or without food. If a person is on long-term medication for a condition such as arthritis or high blood pressure, he or she should check with a doctor before making any radical dietary changes.
When receiving a drug from a pharmacist, check the label. If no instructions are included relating to drug-food interactions, ask that they be added. People who must take several different drugs may find it difficult to remember which is which. Clearly labeled packages can remedy this problem.