Saturday, July 24, 2010

Drug interactions Examples, Drugs Interaction with Food Beverages food supplements and other drugs

Drug interactions Examples, Drugs Interaction with Food Beverages food supplements and other drugs

Drugs Interaction with Food and Beverages
Alcohol: It is advised that alcohols should not be consumed while one is on medication with one or more drugs Alcohols are known to interfere in activity of many drugs , it may potentiate action of some drug like , benzodiazepines , and phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants sedative effect is potentiated and it can prove fatal.

Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice should be avoided with some blood pressure-lowering drugs or cyclosporine given in treatment to avoid organ transplant rejection. As it may hinder in metabolism of these drugs and can cause serious affect due to high blog concentration of these drugs.
Grapefruit juice may interact with
Anti-anxiety drugs Buspar (buspirone);
Anti-malaria drugs Quinerva or Quinite (quinine);
Halcion (triazolam), a drug prescribed to in treatment for insomnia.

Licorice:
Liquorice may interfear in the metabolism of digitalis alkaloids and Lanoxin (digoxin), which may potentiate the activity of Lanoxin (digoxin), which is sued to treat congestive heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias.
Licorice decreases the effects of Hydrodiuril (hydrochlorothiazide) and Aldactone (spironolactone diuretics) which are drugs used in treatment of high blood pressure drugs or (urine-producing)

Chocolate:
Eating chocolate after consuming Monoamineoxidase drug like Nardil (phenelzine) or Parnate (tranylcypromine), may result in to serious drug interactions.
As chocolate contains xanthan alkaloid theobromine , and caffeine, which may interfere activity of monoamineoxidase inhibitor drugs which are used to treat depressive disorders, may cause a sharp rise in blood pressure.

Caffeine in chocolate may interact with Ritalin (methylphenidate), a stimulant drugs and potentiate their action, caffeine in chocolate may lessen sedative-hypnotics activity of drug Ambien (zolpidem).
Drugs Interaction with Dietary Supplements

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum):
This herb is able to induce some hepatic enzymes which are responsible for metabolism of may drugs , hence it may reduce the activity of following drugs on body by faster metabolic degradation in liver. example of drugs which may get lowering of blood concentration faster are
Lanoxin, cholesterol-lowering drugs Mevacor and Altocor (lovastatin) , Viagra (sildenafil).

Vitamin E: vitamin E can potentiate activity of anticoagulant drug warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding in patients on anticoagulant therapy in case of thromboembolic conditions.

Ginseng: It potentiate the anticoagulant activity of warfarin and ginseng may increase the tendency of bleeding when administered along with heparin, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen.

Ginseng may cause headache if administered concomitantly with Nardil or Parnate (MAO inhibitors) may result in trouble sleeping, nervousness, and hyperactivity.

Ginkgo Biloba: Ginkgo biloba in high doses can reduce the efficacy of anticonvulsant drugs like Tegretol, Equetro or Carbatrol (carbamazepine), and Depakote (valproic acid). Priscribed for controlling seizures.

Drugs Interaction with Other Drugs

Amiodarone HCl
Amiodarone HCl and Simvastatin may increase the risk of developing rhabdomyolysis
Patients taking simvastatin doses more than 20 mg are at higher risk of developing rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure and death

Amiodarone HCl : warfarin : Amiodarone can potentiate effect of warfarin
Norvir (ritonvair) and Lanoxin (digoxin): Norvir (ritonvair) can elevate the blood level of Lanoxin which may result in cardiac complecations

Antihistamines: Antihistaminics drugs may potentiate action of group of drugs like sedatives, tranquilizers, and antidepressant drugs and drugs for lowering high blood pressure.
May bring about greater degree of sedation and may affect concentration,
It is always advisable that one should not drive a car or operate machinery after taking such anti histaminic drugs like chlorpheniramine maleate which induce a sedative action.

There are many examples of drug interactions , we invite our readers to write us about a drug interaction they want us to publish on this website by emailing us at submitearticles(@)gmail.com


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