Food and Drug Interaction

Food and Drug Interaction

Author Note

Created September 11, 2015 for NU117/NUR1172 section 18 Nutritional Principles in Nursing

Abstract

Many people are unaware of how medication works in their body and the interaction it has with food. Consider these surprising facts: Older adults comprise 13% of the population but account for 34% of all prescriptions and 30% of all over-the-counter drugs used in the United States. (Bareuther, 2008). Different medication interacts differently with certain foods. In our society, many people take prescription medication and over the counter drugs for various types of illnesses. Some of these medicines interact with the food that we eat causing side effects and changes the way food is being absorbed and metabolized in the body. In this paper, I focus on five common interactions between food and medication and patient education regarding the interaction.

Effects of grapefruit

Grapefruit juice interacts with a combination of drugs such as statins, a cholesterol medication, antihistamines, thyroid replacement, birth control, stomach acid- blocking drugs and the cough suppressant, dextromethorphan. MedlinePlus recommends avoiding grapefruit juice if you are taking statin. Grapefruit juice interacts with numerous drugs both prescription and over the counter in various ways. (Begun, 2014). Grapefruit juice interacts with medication by increasing the absorption of the drugs and can cause the body to metabolize the drugs abnormally, resulting in lower or higher than average blood level of the drug. Grapefruit juice contains a class of compounds called furanocoumarins, which act in the body to alter the characteristics of these medications. (Begun, 2014).

Leafy greens effects

Green leafy vegetables interact with Coumadin (warfarin), a blood thinning drugs that interferes with vitamin k dependent clothing factor. By eating too much green leafy vegetables, which are high in vitamin K, decrease the ability of blood thinners...