Can I Drink Coffee or Diet Coke While Taking Nitrofurantoin
IT'S common to be told to take lots of different medicines with food - to protect your tummy.
But did you know there are some foods and drinks you should avoid at all costs?
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That's because some can disrupt the way your body absorbs certain medicines - in some cases rendering them ineffective.
Some drugs are designed to be slow release, so foods that speed up the process, stop them packing the right punch.
Other foods can cause your body to absorb more of the drug than intended, which can have some potentially dangerous side effects.
When taking medication it's always best to consult with your doctor about what you can and cannot do.
Here, Shamir Patel, pharmacist and founder at Chemist-4-U, lists the seven foods and drink you should never take with these common medicines.
1. Grapefruit: statins
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If you're one of the millions of Brits taking statins, listen up.
If you take Lipitor, simvastatin or another of the cholesterol-busting drugs you should avoid grapefruit.
And the same goes for people prescribed amiodarone to combat an irregular heartbeat.
Whether it's fresh or in juice form, grapefruit can be bad news when it comes to taking these drugs.
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"This is because it contains a group of chemicals called furanocoumarins that inhibit the time the body takes to break down a drug," Shmair said.
"They stop certain enzymes from working, which can lead to more of the active drug being absorbed into the body than the intended dose.
"Other citrus fruits including limes and Seville oranges are also thought to have the same effect."
2. Cheese and meat: antibiotics
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If you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression then you may need to avoid mature cheese and aged meats.
The same goes for the antibiotic linezolid, used to treat severe infections like pneumonia.
"Tyramine is an amino acid that helps regulate blood pressure. It is found particularly in food that has been aged or fermented, such as Camembert and Gouda cheese as well as smoked or aged meats like salami and pastrami," Shamir said.
"Monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs, prescribed for conditions such as depression and chemotherapy, reduce the body's ability to process tyramine.
"That puts you at risk of side effects including a severe increase in blood pressure, chest pain and rapid heartbeat."
3. Fizzy drinks: ibuprofen
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Fizzy drinks pose a potential risk if you are taking tablets that come with a special coating, like ibuprofen.
"Beverages such as Coca-Cola, 7-up and Fanta are injected with carbon dioxide to make them fizz," Shamir said.
"This process forms acids and it is these than can pose a danger when taking pills.
"The acids damage the coating of some tablets that is specifically designed to regulate their content's release inside the stomach.
"This means it may happen before they reach their target and therefore be less effective."
4. Booze: painkillers and antihistamines
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Drinking alcohol should be avoided if you are taking antihistamines and certain pain medications like morphine and codeine.
You should also be wary if you are taking meds for diabetes and HIV.
"Best avoided with any medication for obvious reasons," Shamir added.
"The reaction between alcohol and these medications can be toxic, but it can also alter the effect of the drug and increase any side effects."
5. Milk: antibiotics, ibuprofen
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The calcium in milk can make some antibiotics, such as tetracycline which treats cholera, acne and malaria, inactive.
You also need to be careful if your medication contains ciprofloxacin and doxycycline, used to treat bacterial infections.
"It is recommended these medicines should be taken two hours before or six hours after eating foods high in calcium, such as yoghurt, cream and cheese," Shamir explained.
"There is also evidence that if you take non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen) with milk it can lead to an upset stomach."
6. Kale: warfarin
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It turns out kale may not be so healthy for people take anticoagulants like warfarin, usually prescribed to stop blood clots and to treat deep vein thrombosis"
"It is packed with vitamin K and that can play havoc with anticoagulants that are used to thin the blood," Shamir said.
"They are often given to recovering heart attack victims and those with irregular heartbeats to reduce the chances of blood clots forming.
"Kale, along with other leafy green vegetables such as spinach and romaine lettuce, can reverse the effects of blood thinning medication such as warfarin, increasing blood clotting.
"Experts advise you don't have to avoid eating these foods entirely if you're on warfarin - just don't gorge on it."
7. Tea and coffee: anti-psychotics
Caffeine can mix badly with some medications, particularly anti-psychotic medicines prescribed for conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia.
"They can increase the levels in the blood, making patients more likely to suffer greater side effects," Shamir said.
"Asthma suffers should also be cautious. Caffeine can decrease the effect of bronchodilators that are used in emergency cases."
SHOULD YOU EVER PUT TABLETS IN FOOD
If you have difficulty swallowing tablets it may be tempting to crush them or hide them in food, but that isn't a good idea.
Peter Batty of Med-Easy, a swallowing aid designed to help those who experience difficulty taking medication, said: "Quite often when you experience anxiety or physical difficulties around taking medication, it can be tempting to either crush them or hide them in food.
"But you should always read the patient information leaflet enclosed with any medication.
"Unless it states that it's safe to crush tablets or mix them with foods, then don't."
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Can I Drink Coffee or Diet Coke While Taking Nitrofurantoin
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6410719/7-foods-drinks-avoid-mixing-common-medicine/