Food and drug interactions

When taking a new medication, you may have noticed a warning stating “avoid grapefruit juice” or “do not take with dairy products” but what exactly does that mean? Some medications interact with different foods that may alter how they work inside our bodies which may lead to the prescribed drug not working in the way it was intended.

nHere at DIHFS, the most frequent medications providers prescribe are for cholesterol, blood pressure and blood thinners. Here are some simple swaps for when your doctor says “no” to certain foods and products.

Cholesterol medications including Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Simvastatin and Rosuvastatin:

• Do not consume large amounts of grapefruit and/or grapefruit juice. What can you do? Try other citrus fruits and their fruit juices such are oranges, tangerines, lemon, and limes.

Blood pressure medication such as ACE Inhibitors: Captopril, Enalapril, Moexipril, Quinapril and Ramipril:

• Avoid using salt substitutes to season your food. What can do you? Try adding herbs & spices to season your meal and in the preparation stages of cooking, an example would be Mrs. Dash. There are many herbs and spices that can add flavor to your food that are available to you and may offer additional nutritional benefits.

Anti-coagulant medication (a type of blood thinner commonly labeled as Warfarin or Coumadin):

• Continue to eat a normal diet of leafy greens, which are full of vitamin K. However, if you do decide to add more leafy greens into your diet, consult with your doctor so they can adjust the medication dose. Foods high in vitamin K are broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, spinach, kale and brussel sprouts.

If you are concerned with how your medication will interact with foods, always consult with your DIHFS health provider. The above is not a comprehensive list of food and drug interactions and you should always consult with your health care provider before starting a new medication.

For more information, you can check this FDA resource.

Jordan Jurczak, BS
Dietetic Intern
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