Food and Drug Interactions: Know Them and Use Them Wisely

Food and Drug Compatibility: Know It and Use It for Years to Come

A phrase pharmacists always say when dispensing medication: “Absolutely avoid alcohol, and take it 30 minutes after meals.” While alcohol is often detrimental to health, are there any other foods to avoid? And is it truly necessary to take all medications 30 minutes after a meal? You've probably wondered about these questions at some point. (The reason for the 30-minute interval after meals is explained at the bottom of this article.) Fortunately, the Korea Food and Drug Administration recently released a booklet titled, 'How Should You Take Medication with Food?', which provides insights into the compatibility of food and medication. Upon reviewing the content, you'll realize that just as human relationships are governed by destiny and compatibility, so too is the relationship between food and medication. Depending on the medication, there are foods that enhance its effects and others that should be avoided. Let's explore the compatibility of food and medicine, which can be helpful in the long run.■ Milk=Milk is a healthy food, often hailed as a 'complete food'. However, certain medications can cause problems when taken with milk. A prime example is a laxative. Milk, being slightly alkaline, neutralizes stomach acid, potentially dissolving the laxative before it reaches the intestines. This can reduce its effectiveness and lead to abdominal pain. Some antibiotics and antifungal medications also see their absorption hindered by milk.Conversely, certain medications benefit from being taken with milk. Painkillers like aspirin, which reduce inflammation and alleviate pain, can irritate the stomach. Consuming them with milk can mitigate stomach damage.In a nutshell, antibiotics and laxatives are best avoided with milk, while painkillers are better taken with milk.■ Fruits and Vegetables=Even the healthy fruits and vegetables aren't exempt. Grapefruit, with its sweet initial taste and slightly bitter aftertaste, is a favorite for many. However, if you're taking medication regularly, you need to be cautious. This includes anti-anxiety medications used to treat mental health conditions and cholesterol-lowering drugs. The reason is that the bitter components of grapefruit interfere with the liver's process of breaking down these medications. Therefore, if you take anti-anxiety or cholesterol-lowering drugs with grapefruit, the medication won't be broken down properly, leading to excessive effects.In essence, grapefruit is a 'forbidden fruit' for individuals taking anti-anxiety or cholesterol-lowering medications.Orange juice, a popular beverage, falls into the same category. Antacids like Gelfos and Almagel, which neutralize stomach acid and reduce heartburn, often contain aluminum. While this aluminum typically isn't absorbed by the body and is eliminated after performing its antacid function, it can be absorbed if taken with orange juice. Additionally, since antacids aim to lower acidity, acidic fruits and carbonated drinks should be avoided.After taking an antacid to soothe your stomach, wait at least three to four hours before drinking orange juice.Among hypertension medications, many require careful management of fruit and vegetable intake. The key here is potassium (K). Many hypertension medications increase potassium levels, and consuming foods rich in potassium can lead to excessive levels. Most hypertension medications are associated with potassium channels. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, oranges, and leafy green vegetables.Hypertension patients need to pay attention to their fruit and vegetable consumption.Anticoagulants are more complex. Anticoagulants prevent blood clotting. Vitamin K poses a problem in this context. Vitamin K promotes blood clotting, which is the opposite of anticoagulants. Therefore, individuals taking anticoagulants should avoid vitamin K. Foods high in vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, cabbage, asparagus, kale, liver, green tea, and beans.■ Meat and Fish=When individuals fall ill, they may be advised to consume protein-rich meat to support their nutritional intake. However, there are precautions to be aware of. Tuberculosis medications can cause chills and headaches when taken with foods high in tyramine and histamine. Common tyramine-rich foods include herring, cheese, and animal liver, while histamine is abundant in oily fish.Tuberculosis patients need to be mindful of the types of protein they consume.Tyramine is also incompatible with a specific type of antidepressant called 'MAO inhibitors'. Tyramine increases blood pressure, but under normal circumstances, the MAO enzyme breaks it down, preventing any issues. However, while taking MAO inhibitors, tyramine isn't broken down, potentially posing a life-threatening risk for hypertension patients.In essence, individuals with hypertension who are taking antidepressants need to reduce their tyramine intake.■ Stimulants and Alcohol=As most people would expect, stimulants like coffee, cola, and chocolate can be problematic when taken with medication. Individuals on mental health medications or antibiotics should be wary of the side effects that caffeine in these stimulants can cause. For those taking osteoporosis medications, the phosphorus in carbonated drinks can worsen the condition by depleting calcium from bones. Alcohol, needless to say, is a no-go. Most medications, to varying degrees, are negatively impacted by alcohol.■ Medications to be Taken on an Empty Stomach=There are also medications that need to be taken without any food, rather than 30 minutes after a meal. This includes lipid-soluble antifungal medications, acetaminophen (a pain and fever reducer), and antihistamines for allergies. These medications' absorption is reduced or their effectiveness diminished when taken with food. Don't worry too much about this aspect. Pharmacists will inform you about these medications when you purchase them.In essence, both food and medication are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, compatibility between them is inevitable. Understanding which foods enhance and which ones hinder the effectiveness of your medication can maximize its benefits. Individuals taking regular medications would benefit from reviewing the relationship between their medications and food. You can download the full text of the booklet from the Korea Food and Drug Administration website (www.kfda.go.kr→Information Center→KFDA Data Room→Publications & Guidelines). (Written by Jung-Hoon Kim, Science Columnist)※Reason Why Most Medications are Taken ‘30 Minutes After a Meal’Most medications don't require specific timing relative to meals. So, why the 30-minute interval? The efficacy of a medication is closely tied to the concentration of its active ingredients in the blood. Most medications maintain effective blood concentrations for about 5 to 6 hours. This timeframe is roughly equivalent to the usual interval between meals. Ultimately, the primary purpose of this recommendation is to encourage consistent medication adherence rather than strict adherence to food intake. Refer to the information above for medications that require specific food pairings or restrictions.
Source: https://topkoreans.tistory.com/42 [Top Korean Blog: Tistory]