Regularly consuming a diet high in fat while taking anti-inflammatory and arthritis medications can cause kidney damage and can leave the patient feeling, drowsy and sedated.
Alcoholic beverages tend to increase the depressive effects of medications such as benzodiazepines, antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, muscle relaxants, narcotics, or any drug with sedative actions.
It’s a good idea to not consume any alcoholic beverages when taking prescription medications. Antioxidant and beta-carotene intensify alcohol’s effect on the liver.
Other commonly used over-the-counter medications can also cause interaction problems.
Aspirin can modify the effectiveness of arthritis medications, strong prescription steroids and diuretics. Combining aspirin with diabetic medications can drop blood sugars to dangerous levels. Aspirin can also cause toxicity when taken with glaucoma and anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) drugs and cause bleeding episodes when combined with a blood thinner, like Coumadin.
Acetaminophen can also cause interaction complications when overused. Heavy drinkers who take acetaminophen for hangover relief risk liver damage. Taking high doses of acetaminophen with Coumadin can cause bleeding episodes.
Antacids taken with antibiotics, heart and blood pressure or thyroid medications can decrease drug absorption by up to 90 percent.
Over-the-counter antihistamines – sold under the names Actifed, Theraflu, Dimetapp, Benadryl and Comtrex should be avoided if you are taking anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications.
Oral contraceptives are less effective when taken with barbiturates, antibiotics, anti-fungal or tuberculosis drugs.
Make sure that you list all of the over counter medicines that you’re currently taking when you see your family doctor for a drug prescription.
Serious consequences and even death can occur when certain medicines mixed together. It is especially important that when an elderly person has a doctor’s appointment, that they be accompanied by a younger relative, such as their child or grandchild, to make sure that the doctor receives an accurate list and explanation of what the elderly patient is actually taking, the symptoms that they have, and the importance for taking the medicine that the doctor prescribes.
© Copyright – Hector Sectzer
