Incompatible Food and Pharmaceutical Mixes

Last Update: 3 June 2020 by Marc Woodard.

Many don’t realize some foods can interact badly with prescription drugs when consumed together. Those that fail to read the dietary warning’s listed on specific pharmaceutical labels, or disregard the prescription use instructions can cause increased health risk.

Listed below are 7 common prescription drugs and foods that when consumed together can increase health risk and/or cause severe ill-health side effects. There are many chemical reactions that occur within the body to keep the metabolism and overall physiology balanced. And when using pharmaceuticals it is important to understand, even the most benign appearing foods can cause an unhealthy chemical reaction.

What medications don’t interact well with certain foods?

Which whole foods are incompatible with what pharmaceuticals?

One only needs to understand everything we put into our bodies causes some kind of chemical reaction. Therefore it is important to realize, if you take any pharmaceutical, ask your doctor and/or pharmacist if there is any food that would cause an ill-health affect or risk to overall health when taken together.

Ageless MirrorAthlete shows you how to live the lifestyle you need, want and deserve now through hard to find fitness and health information, including consumer safety and dietary truths, etc.

Listed are commonly prescribed medications & foods that don’t interact well.

1. Anti-depressants SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, etc. MAOI’s (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) – Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine, etc. Their related generic counterparts are: Marplan, Nardil, (Emsam, Eldepryl, Zelapar) and Parnate.

Drug treatment purpose: Anti-depressants are effective in treating depression, panic and other anxiety disorders. They also require special considerations with regard to diet. MAOI’s are normally used when other anti-depressants fail. When used as prescribed they will boost mood by improving brain cell communication.

Side effects: Diarrhea, dry mouth, sleepiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, low blood pressure, nervousness, muscle aches, insomnia, weight gain, sense of taste, hampered sexual drive, erectile dysfunction, difficult urinating, tingling, or prickling sensation on skin. If removed from anti-depressants too fast the following withdrawal effects are likely: insomnia, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, irritability and anxiety may follow.

Non-compatible foods: Aged cheeses, pickled, or fermented sausages (pepperoni, salami), luncheon meats, beef liver, chicken liver, yeast-containing foods and beverages that have the compound tyramine [protein containing foods] in them. This compound has an effect on blood pressure. If the bodies MAO (Monoamine Oxidase) enzyme is inhibited by MAOI medication, it is necessary to avoid the foods that contain this compound. If this diet restriction is not followed, then blood pressure can increase towards critically unhealthy levels.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: High levels of tyramine in the body can lead to high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia and brain hemorrhage.

2. Anti-anxiety – Benzodiazepines are the most common anti-anxiety drugs, e.g., Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, Xanax, etc., and Generic: lorazepam, clonazepam, diazepam and alprazolam are all sedatives and bind with the brains natural sedatives to calm you down.

Drug treatment purpose: To help relax and reduce anxiety. Anti-anxiety drugs are also known as tranquilizers. Anti-anxiety medications work by slowing down the central nervous system [reduced brain activity] and have a relaxing effect on the mind and body. They are also prescribed for sleeping and muscle spasm disorders. Often antidepressants will be prescribed to relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Known side effects: Addiction, inability to focus-learn, uncoordinated, clumsiness, confusion, disorientation, blurred vision, upset stomach, lightheadedness, sleepy, impaired judgment, nausea, memory loss. Long term users of these medications also experience depression. High dosages and long term use will likely increase suicidal thoughts and feelings. Benzodiazepines can also cause the opposite of a calming effect like mania, aggressive behavior, or hostility, rage and even hallucinations.

Non-compatible foods: Alcohol. When these drugs are mixed with alcohol the sedative properties on the brain and body is amplified. Not only do you feel more drunk, but more tired and forgetful. Coffee and drinks with caffeine in them affects anti-anxiety and asthma medications.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: Your breathing rate is significantly slowed down and risk of respiratory failure increases.

3. Antibiotics – Monodox, Dynacin, Sumycin, Cipro, Levaquin, etc. Generics: minocycline, tetracycline and doxycycline, etc. This listing represents a few of many antibiotics that could be prescribed.

Drug treatment purpose: Antibiotics are used to kill bacterial infections. They are not effective against fungal (ringworm or vaginal yeast infection), flu, or the common cold.

Side effects – Antibiotics are relatively safe when used appropriately. However, like any medication unwanted side effects do occur. If you experience any skin rash, hives, wheezing, anaphylaxis (shortage of breath), swelling of lips, tongue or face seek medical attention immediately.

Non-compatible foods: Dairy products have calcium in them. Calcium tends to bind with the antibiotics if a dairy product is consumed within a two hour window after taking the medication. Vitamins and Antacids can also decrease the efficiency of antibiotics. For example, ciprofloxacin an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract and abdominal infections among other things; when mixed with antacids becomes less effective when it binds to magnesium and calcium.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: This binding prevents the antibiotic from absorbing into the body to fight an infection rendering various antibiotics useless. When this happens the medication stays in the intestine and leaves the body at the next bowel movement. Yet there are other antibiotics used for strep throat and ear infections where dairy products have no impact on those medications.

4. High blood pressure, or anti-hypertension medications – Univasc, Zestril and Monopril can raise your potassium levels. Common generics: Hygroton, Lozol, Mykrox, Diuril, Lasix, Esidrix, etc. There are many specialized medications that are designed to treat both diuretic and high blood pressure cases.

Drug treatment purpose: To lower blood pressure and reduce blood clotting risk. Many classes of blood pressure medications include a diuretic treatment component. These medications help to rid the body of excess water and sodium and help to control blood pressure. Diuretics are often used in combination with other medications like anti-clotting prevention treatment that use aspirin and Plavix. When patients are at high risk of stroke or heart attack, doctors often prescribe Plavix as an anti-platelet drug for blood clotting prevention. The first line of attack is aspirin. Both anti-clotting and blood pressure medications may likely be prescribed together, but not always.

Known side effects: Gout, increased blood sugar levels, leg cramps, weakness, impotence may occur.

Non-compatible foods: Limit foods high in potassium like bananas, salt substitutes with potassium, spinach, leafy greens and sweet potatoes. Eating a banana once a day, or leafy green the next should be ok. But you’ll want to confirm diet and frequency of consumption with your prescribing physician.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: Too much potassium in the body can cause your heart to beat irregularly and in severe cases can cause cardiac arrest. Also, two foods that can keep blood clotting medications from working are garlic and ginger. They can cause excessive bleeding as they both have high doses of blood thinning agents in them.

5. High cholesterol – Statin drugs (blood cholesterol lowering medications) include: Lipex, Mevacor, Zocor, Crestor, Vytorin or Lipitor, to include generics like simvastatin, lovastatin, or atorvastatin, etc.

Drug treatment purpose: Lower High Blood Cholesterol.

Known side effects and health risk: As of recent studies, the following health risks are possible; memory loss, diabetes and muscle pain. The food and drug administration has officially linked statin drugs with forgetfulness, confusion and increased blood sugar levels that would be of concern for diabetics. Liver injury is also possible and is rare.

Non-compatible foods: Some cholesterol medications can be affected by grape fruit juice or the fruit. It is the inhibiting properties of this fruit that keeps the intestine and/or liver from breaking down the drug and increases the risk that the drug will accumulate in the body and become toxic. It is the citrus that blocks the enzyme in the intestines and prevents the metabolism of these drugs. The active component in this fruit is not yet known. Check with your prescribing doctor about grapefruit products in the diet. There are some statin medications that are not influenced by this fruit. It is also true some immune drugs and allergy drugs like Allegra are affected by grapefruit.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: Grapefruit and its juice should be avoided when using heart medicines and a number of other prescriptive drugs for cardio and immunological health related problems. Be sure to consult with the prescribing physician with foods you should consume when on these medications.

6. Blood thinner – Coumadin (generic: warfarin) Aggrenox, Aspirin, Jantoven, Heparin, Lovenox, Plavix, etc.

Drug treatment purpose: The job of blood thinners is to thin the blood for patients that are high risk of heart attack, or developing blood clots.

Known side effects: Each medication listed can cause a combination of the following side effects; Nausea, irritated stomach, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, dizziness and indigestion. Coumadin and Heparin can cause serious bleeding inside the eye and intestine, or cause bruising, blood in the urine, nose bleeds. Other problems include kidney function, difficulty breathing and muscle aches.

Non-compatible foods: Since Vitamin K (thickens blood) is found abundantly in leafy greens, they can block the effects of the blood thinners. Leafy greens that can affect of blood thinners are Brussels sprouts, collard greens, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, kale, Swiss chard and Green tea. Other foods that may impact blood thinner medications include: cranberries, as well as the juice, garlic and ginger. They can actually increase the blood thinning properties of the blood thinners that could amplify their effect.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: Increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

7. Thyroid – Synthroid, Armour thyroid, Levoxyl, Cytomel, etc. Generic: Levothyroxin, thyroid desiccated, levothyroxine, liothyronine, etc.

Drug treatment purpose: Used to regulate the thyroid glands to normalize hormone functions throughout the body when they fail to produce enough thyroid hormone. Effective treatment can increase energy, mood disposition and body weight regulation. To include supports male and female characteristic traits.

Known side effects: Thyroid medications do not cause side effects if taken in the correct dose.

Non-compatible foods: Tofu, soymilk (soy products) and walnuts can prevent your body from absorbing the thyroid medication. It may not be necessary to give up these foods, but let your physician know about your dietary preferences. It is very possible your soy diet preference can be resolved with a modification of dose.

Health risk when prescription and non-compatible foods are taken together: Weight gain, obesity and other ill-health and disease complications.

References,

American Heart Association. Types of Blood Pressure Medications.

Ankrom, Sheryl. Dietary Precautions While Taking MAOIs. Former About.com Guide, updated June 17, 2009. 

Club Red. Some Foods and Medications Just Don’t Mix. January 2012.

Drugs.com. Common Side Effects, Allergies and Reactions to Antibiotics.

Drugs.com. Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism) Medications.

Harris, Gardiner. Safety Alerts Cite Cholesterol Drugs Side Effects. The New York Times. February 28, 2012.

Helpguide.org. Anxiety Medication.

Rodgers, Linda. Foods and Medications that Don’t Mix. Grand Parents.com

Mayo Clinic Staff. Depression (major depression). Monomine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).

NBCNews.com. Foods to Avoid When You’re Taking Meds. 26 October 2006.

Vega, Jose M.D., Ph.D. Side Effects of Coumadin, Plavix and Other Blood Thinners.  About.com.

WebMD.com. Hypothryroidism.

Woodard, Marc. 41 Drugs to Die For. Mirror Athlete Fitness Secrets. 24 October 2010.

Woodard, Marc. Defeat Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Mirror Athlete Fitness Secrets. 24 November 2010.

Woodard, Marc. How to Deal with Depression. Mirror Athlete Fitness Secrets. 25 August 2008.

Woodard, Marc. The Thyroid is a Powerful Weight Regulating Gland. Mirror Athlete Fitness Secrets. 21 May 2012.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2013-20 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., http://www.mirrorathlete.com, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

After Holiday Weight Gain Blues

Travel and Food Go Together – Pacing oneself is the challenge.

Last updated 22 Jan 19, by Marc Woodard

Another year has gone by with all the Holiday decor and cheer with it. I understand some of you had a tough time with the food choices and amount that you consumed; and last year’s weight loss resolution didn’t work out so well.

With that being said, should I dare say some of you are not only bummed out after you stepped on the scale, you have the weight gain blues.

There are many reasons weight gain occurs. I would never tell you I know exactly what you are going through. However I do know, out-of-control weight gain is often attached to an emotional lifestyle change. And those changes often trigger over consumption of food and drink – especially during and after the Holiday season, or vacations. And this can lead to acute-to-chronic depression for many.

There is also an illness-disease relationship associated with unhealthy body weight – especially once we become obese. At this point the mind-body becomes susceptible to greater health risk. For example, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), congenital heart disease, fibromyalgia-phantom pain, etc. A daily habit of over eating may also increase other bad habits, i.e., smoking, drinking, illicit drug or unnecessary pharmaceutical use.

In general, stressful life events cannot be avoided. But can be stress-minimized through understanding the environmental triggers causing them. Regardless of season, or any day for that matter… you must learn how to target and identify the physical, mental and/or social triggers causing the emotional stress keeping you overweight and unfit and do something about it.

Unfortunately for some – the over weight condition may be the result of a genetic or metabolic factor, Which may have less to do with lifestyle habits and behavior – but more to do with an inefficient calorie burning furnace. Any long-term weight gain that threatens health should seek medical attention immediately from a physician.

Recreational Activity Does a Body Good.

Below I’ve listed a few behavioral habit forming relationships that can be changed before and after any holiday season or vacation to help reduce body fat weight gain and achieve the weight loss goal.

8 Lifestyle Changes You can Make to Achieve Your New Years Resolution Weight Loss Goal.

1. Holiday Cheer Weight Gain – What can I say about Holiday Cheer that I haven’t mentioned in my previous writings.  Have a Holiday battle meal plan before you set down at the table.  Read the following article, “10 Step Basic Weight Loss Tips.”
2.  Last Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight Failed – You know why you failed your weight loss program from previous years. You did not resolve, or change your eating, drinking, or exercise habits. To do so is still too painful for whatever the reason. Until you resolve and/or get serious about your weight loss goal, or seek professional help, regardless of who provides you weight loss tips, services or program… you’ll likely continue to struggle with body weight.
3.  Pain factor – All pain is directly related to illness, disease and/or injury. And with pain comes more sedentary habits. It is for this reason, it is more important than ever you work with your primary physician and pain management specialists to find treatment and activity that’s right for you. If you have mental and physical pain that’s not been diagnosed – seek advisement and referrals from your primary care physician.
4.  Stressful life events cause excess calorie consumption– For many the habit of eating more calories than needed may come from everyday stresses caused by work or home environment, or bad relationship with spouse, friend or family member. Or the stress could be caused by some other non-diagnosed physical and mental pain from childhood. Stress events can culminate and increase a depression mood that causes one to eat more in an attempt to feel better. Once you target the cause of your stress induced bad habit and/or behavior and remove it… it’s more likely you’ll succeed in a safe weight program over a set period of time.
5.  Carry the party into New Year – Some carry the end of year festivities into the new year. This behavior can last for months, or the entire year. This continued habit will not help you lose weight or remove the depression umbrella. “First and foremost, you must understand this is occurring and must break this unhealthy habit.” As one ages and the habit continues – health risk increases.
6.  Fast foods after the Holiday’s. Too many Americans consume fast foods especially during the Holidays. Here lies a crux for much of the American obesity problem. During this time of year there is a huge spike in fast foods and alcohol sales. Yes, business booms almost in every sector of the economy. Fast foods are convenient, chemically addictive and bad for health in the long run. I know you’re thinking, what if I just give up the fast food places and eat out at restaurants? While this is a better concept, you don’t know how much of those meals are processed with unhealthy garbage causing your weight gain. Also when you eat out – most tend to eat more. Instead develop a healthy whole foods shopping habit and limit yourself to 1 fast food meal a week. I highly recommend you read, “Restaurant and Grocery Foods Healthy?”
7.  Love of Baking – I know, some of you carry your new found baking habits into the new year. Although there is nothing wrong with cooking your own food, the pitfall is when you love everything you bake just a little too much. I know the kids love your home made cookies, cakes and pies. Remember moderation with deserts. Too much sugar, fat and salt is not good for anyone, even children with fast metabolisms. If you’re having a tough time changing up your baking habit – try becoming a little more creative by offering different types of deserts… fresh fruits, jello, pudding, etc. Mix it up and break away from the continuous high fat baking habit.
8.  Empty Nester’s Bake for an Army – Regardless of season, there are many who continue to cook for an entire family after the children have left home. There are many things tied into this habit. This is a tough habit to change – especially if the spouse demands traditional family recipes. If you continue to cook this way, you’ll not reduce food portions – it will be more challenging to meet your weight loss goal.

Once you target the cause of your weight gain nemesis and make healthier lifestyle choices that include daily exercise activities – your fitness levels and health will improve dramatically, while achieving your weight loss resolution once and for all.

Good health to you and your family!

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET.  2019 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: http://www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.