Side Effects

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Medicine/Herb/Food Interactions

Alcohol is a drug that interacts with almost every medication, especially antidepressants and other drugs that affect the brain and nervous system.

Some dietary components increase the risk of side effects. Theophylline, a medication administered to treat asthma, contains xanthines, which are also found in tea, coffee, chocolate, and other sources of caffeine. Consuming large amounts of these substances while taking theophylline increases the risk of drug toxicity.

Stay away from very spicy herbs like ginger and cayenne when you take drugs — these are known to enhance absorption of some chemicals. Eat spicy foods at least an hour after taking a drug.

Large amounts of broccoli, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables high in vitamin K, which promotes the formation of blood clots, can counteract the effects of heparin, warfarin, and other drugs given to prevent clotting.

Cranberries, like many other fruits and berries, contains significant amounts of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is similar to aspirin. People who are taking aspirin or are allergic to aspirin should avoid drinking large quantities of cranberry juice.

Dietary fiber affects drug absorption. Pectin and other soluble fibers slow down absorption of acetaminophen. Bran and other insoluble fibers have a similar effect on digoxin, a major heart medication.

Tricyclics
Many foods, especially legumes, meat, fish, and foods high in Vitamin C, reduce absorption of the drugs.

Antihypertensives - Heart Medications
ACE inhibitors: Take on an empty stomach to improve the absorption of the drugs.Alpha blockers: Take with liquid or food to avoid excessive drop in blood pressure.
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Avoid caffeine, which increases the risk of irregular heartbeat.Beta blockers: Take on an empty stomach. Food, especially meat, increases the drug's effects and can cause dizziness and low blood pressure.
Digitalis: Avoid taking with milk and high fiber foods, which reduce absorption, increases potassium loss. When taking heart medications or mood-altering drugs like Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil, be careful with caffeine-containing herbs like guarana, green tea, yerba maté tea, kola nut, and chocolate, or other herbal stimulants like ephedra (ma huang). Stimulant herbs can make your nervous system more responsive to many kinds of drugs that affect your nervous system or cardiovascular system.

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

Cholestyramine: Increases the excretion of folate and vitamins A, D, E & K.
Gemfibrozil: Avoid fatty foods, which decrease the drug's efficacy in lowering cholesterol.

Heartburn and Ulcer Medications

Antacids: Interfere with the absorption of many minerals; for maximum benefit, take medication 1 hour after eating.
Cimetidine, Fanotidine, Sucralfate: Avoid high protein foods, caffeine, and other items that increase stomach acidity.

Always consult a Naturopath or Physician for diagnosis, confirmation & dosage recommendations before using herbs for medicinal purposes. Use of herbs should be stopped during pregnancy and lactation. This page is for informational use only. It's not to be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Know the facts about the plant material you use. *This is not a full list of all possible interactions or side effects of all drugs or herbs.

Cephalosporins, penicillin: Take on an empty stomach to speed absorption of the drugs.Erythromycin: Don't take with fruit juice or wine, decreases the drug's effectiveness.Sulfa drugs: Increase the risk of Vitamin B-12 deficiency
Tetracycline: Dairy products reduce effectiveness. Lowers Vitamin C absorption

Fluoxetine: Reduce appetite and can lead to excessive weight loss Lithium: A low-salt diet increases the risk of lithium toxicity; excessive salt reduces the drug's efficacy MAO Inhibitors: Foods high in tyramine include aged cheese, chicken liver, Chianti (and certain other red wines), yeast extracts, bologna (and other processed meats), dried or pickled fish, legumes, soy sauce, ale, and beer, can bring on a hypertensive crisis. St. John's Wort: mixed with foods high in tyramine (see above), produces a dangerous food-drug interaction. Symptoms can occur within minutes including rapid rise in blood pressure, a severe headache, collapse and even death. When taking mood-altering drugs like Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil, be careful with caffeine-containing herbs like guarana, green tea, yerba maté tea, kola nut, and chocolate, or other herbal stimulants like ephedra (ma huang). Stimulant herbs can make your nervous system more responsive to many kinds of drugs that affect your nervous system or cardiovascular system.

Increase the risk of potassium deficiency.Potassium sparing diuretics: Unless a doctor advises otherwise, don't take diuretics with potassium supplements or salt substitutes, which can cause potassium overload.Thiazide diuretics: Increase the reaction to MSG.

Aspirin & non-steroidal, anti- inflammatory drugs:
Always take with food to lower the risk of gastrointestinal irritation; avoid taking with alcohol, which increases the risk of bleeding. Frequent use of these drugs lowers the absorption of folate and vitamin C.

Benzodiazepines:
Never take with alcohol. Caffeine increases anxiety and reduce drug's effectiveness

Pseudoephedrine: Avoid caffeine, which increase feelings of anxiety and nervousness.

Theophylline: Charbroiled foods and high protein diet reduce absorption. Caffeine increases the risk of drug toxicity.

Oral contraceptives: Salty foods increase fluid retention. Drugs reduce the absorption of folate, vitamin B-6, and other nutrients; increase intake of foods high in these nutrients to avoid deficiencies.

Steroids
Salty foods increase fluid retention. Increase intake of foods high in calcium, vitamin K, potassium, and protein to avoid deficiencies.