How Certain Foods Affect The Effectiveness Of Drugs

How certain foods affect the effectiveness of drugs

Taking medications cannot always be combined with certain foods. Scientists have found that such combinations can not only reduce the effectiveness of drugs, but also lead to the development of serious side effects.

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Taking medications cannot always be combined with certain foods. Scientists have found that such combinations can not only reduce the effectiveness of drugs, but also lead to the development of serious side effects.

Citrus

Oranges, tangerines and grapefruits affect the metabolism of many drugs - statins, beta-blockers, psychotropic drugs, and even a number of analgesics. This is due to the furanocoumarins contained in grapefruit juice - organic substances produced by plants.

Citrus juice contains bergamotin and its derivatives - they are able to suppress the work of a number of enzymes functioning in the liver and small intestine, for example, one of the forms of cytochrome P450. This causes the drugs to stay active longer than necessary, which can cause drug overdose. This is known as the "grapefruit juice effect."

In addition, the substances contained in grapefruit juice and other citrus fruits can disrupt the normal functioning of transport molecules: as a result, too little or too much drug gets into the cells.

Cheese

There are a huge number of cheeses that differ in the way they are prepared and in their taste. It turns out that hard, aged cheeses can interfere with the effectiveness of antidepressants, which are monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

These cheeses contain large amounts of tyramine, which has a vasoconstrictor effect. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors inhibit the oxidation of tyramine, which leads to an increase in pressure. The effects of antidepressant medications persist for several weeks after you stop using these medications. This means that patients should refrain from consuming hard, aged cheeses even after they stop taking antidepressants.

Bananas

Bananas are a source of potassium, and potassium is important for normal heart and muscle function. Both lack and excess of potassium can lead to serious consequences.

People with hypertension often take ACE inhibitors - drugs that suppress the work of the angiotensin-converting enzyme. As a result, angiotensin I is not converted to angiotensin II, which has a vasoconstrictor effect. Among the complications caused by taking ACE inhibitors is hyperkalemia. Eating bananas, legumes, and other potassium-rich foods enhances this effect.

Source: Eat, drink, but be wary - 4 foods that interact with medications

Medications work on time curves and half-lives, and for many, there are narrow lines between just the right amount and either not enough or way too much.

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