5 Surprising Drug + Food interaction encountered in daily life

 

With changing lifestyles and related chronic diseases most of us are prescribed long-term medicines. In this age of polypharmacy, it is easy to mix wrong drugs and food ingredients. You might get surprised by the following list as some of these are more commonly mixed together.

Here are five easily avoidable common Food to Drug interactions to lookout for:

 1. Milk/ Milk products + Multivitamins tablets/ syrups

 Most of the Multivitamins tablets available in market also contain iron, magnesium, zinc, and copper added for supplementation purpose along with other common vitamins.

When administered together, Calcium present in Milk will interfere with absorption of above-mentioned metals due to chelating effect of calcium.

It is always useful to read carefully about the ingredients of these supplements before consumption.

 2. Alcohol + Cough/Cold medication

Despite the fact that most of us would prefer little bit of wine or whiskey for relief from irritating sore throat and blocked nose, alcohol is just a bad idea when you are already on cough and cold medications.

 All cough and cold contain antihistaminic group of drugs as an active ingredient. This group of drugs are known to cause sedation as a side-effect along with anti-allergic properties.

Mixing together with alcohol can cause series of side-effects ranging from prolonged sedition to restlessness, giddiness and delirium (depending upon the type of active ingredient and alcohol intake).

 3. Grape juice + Statins ( Cholesterol lowering drugs)

Statins ( eg. Atrovastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin) are one of the most prescribed drugs in India and worldwide. As cardiovascular diseases are the most common non-communicable lifestyle disorders in India population, most of us have come across these drugs agents at some point of life.

As these drugs are prescribed in long term, they tend to have several side effects. Commonly encountered are, headache, muscle soreness, increase in liver enzymes

Grape/ Grape juice products contain furanocoumarin, which can inhibit metabolism of statin in the liver and thus prolong their biological effects and cause toxicity.

 

4. Cabbage/ Broccoli + Thyroxine (Hypothyroid medicine)

Hypothyroidism is another common lifestyle disease with increased prevalence in India during the last decade, especially in females.  It occurs due to the inability of thyroid gland to produce natural thyroid hormone (T3 & T4). Low levels of thyroid hormones in need of long-term care and replacement to natural thyroxine hormone.

Most hypothyroid patients take thyroxine ranging from 12.5-100 mcg as a life-long therapy. The only ideal way to take Thyroxine is to be taken empty stomach in the morning as any kind of food in the stomach can decrease its absorption.

Cabbage/ Broccoli due to their high fiber content can decrease iodine utilization by thyroid glands to produce thyroxine, hence decrease natural thyroxine further.

 5. Tea / Coffee + Painkillers

It is very common to mix coffee and  together for quick relief in headache and body pain. Majority of painkillers available in the market belong to NSAIDs group ( Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Common examples are Aspirin, Brufen and our every own Paracetamol.

 The most common side effect associated with these drugs is increased gastric acidity, and thus causing gastric inflammation and ulcer. 

 When consumed with Tea or Coffee (stimulants of gastric acid ), they can lead to severe gastric discomfort by synergistic effect. Long-term use is also related to liver damage. Due to this reason these drugs are always prescribed with antacids and always be taken after heavy meals.

 

Endnote: Any form of medicine contain active chemical ingredients, which can react with food and drinks we consume. Hence, always be vigilant and aware of the medicines you consume, and consult your physician before self-medicating yourself.

 

Last updated: 2021-06-15

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