Foods that should not be eaten with some medications!

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Some general medical advice says that some medicines can be taken on an empty stomach, but others should be taken with food to reduce side effects.

But, can the type of food or drink affect the effect of the medicine in the body?

Health experts said that citrus fruits, for example, disrupt the absorption of about 85 different drugs, from statins to antidepressants.

The problem with citrus fruits is that they contain compounds called furanocoumarins, which can interfere with an enzyme in the body that breaks down medications, which could lead to dangerously high levels in the bloodstream.

Under normal circumstances, this enzyme reduces the amount of drug entering the blood, according to Simon Maxwell, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh.

Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, can reduce the absorption of common antibiotics used to treat many types of infections.

“For example, if you eat yogurt while taking ciprofloxacin, this can reduce its effectiveness by up to 42%,” Goggins says.

Processed meats can also interact with some older antidepressant pills known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which work by reducing the activity of a key enzyme (monoamine oxidase), leading to higher levels of chemicals in the brain that help you feel better. Happiness, including norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.

But this enzyme also helps control levels of the amino acid tyramine, which is found in processed meats.

High levels of tyramine can cause high blood pressure, leading to severe headaches and blurred vision.

Eating foods that contain a high percentage of fiber can reduce the effectiveness of the thyroid drug levothyroxine, as fiber binds to the drug as it travels through the gastrointestinal tract, reducing its absorption.

Eating bananas affects the effectiveness of high blood pressure and heart failure medications, known as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which tend to favor the retention of potassium (in bananas) in the kidneys.

However, the effect of food or drink can sometimes be positive.

It is said that drinking a single cup of espresso can enhance the effect of paracetamol, as caffeine accelerates the absorption of the drug in the intestine, says pharmacist specializing in food interactions, Aidan Goggins.

“Food-drug interactions with the same meal have been tested for years,” Goggins says. “Often, clinically relevant interactions with other foods are detected in the years after drugs are on the market, so they are removed from drug packages and never communicated to the patient.” ".

It is believed that more advice and warnings about food interactions should be added to the medicine package.

You should consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or routine, if you are taking regular or prescribed medications.