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Medication Information

Drug Interaction

Below is some information on Food – Drug and Herb – Drug interactions. If you have questions, please ask your doctor or
nurse.

In order to better manage your medications, download our medication diary to keep track of your medications and help provide your physician with correct and up-to-date information.

Food Drug Interactions

Type of Drug Relationship with Food

Anti - Coagulants

Do not take: Goldenseal, Co-Enzyme Q10, Ginkgo, Chondroitin, Ginger, Licorice

  • Warfarin
  • Be careful with Garlic Supplements
  • Coumadin
  • Ginseng may increase the effects of Warfarin or Coumadin

Avoid making sudden changes in the intake of foods high in Vitamin K & E

Limit Foods such as:

  • Asparagus
  • Canola Oil
  • Collard Greens
  • Garbanzos
  • Green Tea
  • Lettuce
  • Pork Liver
  • Spinach
  • Beef Liver
  • Cauliflower
  • Cucumber Peel
  • Green Beans
  • Mint
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Swiss Chard
  • Broccoli
  • Chicken Liver
  • Egg Yolk
  • Green Peas
  • Green Tomato
  • Mustard Greens
  • Soybeans
  • Turnip Greens
  • Raw Green Cabbage
  • Endive
  • Green Onions
  • Kale
  • Parsley
  • Soybean Oil
  • Watercress
Nsaids
  • Aspirin
  • Take with food
  • Motrin, Advil
  • Limit Alcohol
  • Anaprox, Aleve, Naprosyn
  • Do not take ginseng
Statins
  • Lipitor
  • Take Mevacor with the evening meal
  • Lescol
  • Avoid grapefruit / grapefruit juice
  • Mevacor
  • Limit alcohol
  • Pravachol
  • Zocor
Dilantin
  • Kapseals
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Infatab
  • Stop any tube feeding for two hours before and after drug given
Tetracyclines
  • Achromycin
  • Take one hour before or two hours after eating
  • Sumycin
  • Avoid taking dairy products at the same time as the medication
  • Vibramycin
  • Minocin
Flagyl / Antabuse

Avoid alcohol for up to three days after completing medication regimen

MAO Inhibitors

Do not take Ephedra

  • Nardil
  • Do not drink alcohol
  • Parnate
  • Do not use red wine products

Avoid the following foods:

  • Avocados
  • Caviar
  • Brie Cheese
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Game Meats
  • Miso Soup
  • Bananas
  • American Processed Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Ginkgo
  • Raisins
  • Sauerkraut
  • Broad (Habas) Beans
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Beef and Chicken Liver
  • Ginseng
  • Yogurt
  • Caffeine containing products
  • Blue Cheese
  • Cured Meats
  • Dried Fish
  • Sour Cream
  • Yeast Extracts

SOURCE: Knapp Medical Center Nutrition Services

Herb Uses and Drug Interactions

Herb

Uses

Relationship with other Drugs

Coenzyme Q10

Heart Disease
Do not use with Wafarin or Coumadin
High blood pressure
Black Cohosh Menopause
Can increase the effects of high blood pressure pills
Echinacea
Fights redness, heat and pain in tissues
Avoid use if allergic to the daisy flower family
Fights Viruses
May depress the immune system
Euphedra

Healths the central nervous system

Helps with breathing

Not advisable with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, glaucoma,
thyroid disease and large prostate problems

Do not take with Nardil or Parnate

Do not take large amounts - death is possible

Garlic
Lowers fat
Do not use with stomach ulcers or heartburn
Ginkgo
Protects nerves and breakdown of tissues
Circulation problems

Do not use with Nardil or Parnate

Decreases clotting of blood cells

Ginseng
Lowers Cholesterol
May cause sleepiness
Lowers Blood Sugar
Do not use with high blood pressure, heart disorders, high blood sugars,
steroids and female hormone therapy
Smoothes the skin
Do not take with Aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprosyn,
Orudis, Relafen, Nardil or Parnate
Prevents Sleepiness
Glucosamine Sulfate
Fights redness, heat and pain in the tissues
Decreases pain for arthritis

May cause problems with making insulin

May cause lung problems

Goldenseal
Fights infections
Large doses can be poisonous - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, nervousness,
high blood pressure, seizures, paralysis and death
Chondroitin
Decrease pain for arthritis
Careful with Warfain or Coumadin
Kava Kava
Relaxes Muscles
Causes skin to turn yellow or form a dry rash
Decreases Pain
Causes muscle weakness
Decreases anxiety
Do not use with depression pills, barbiturates (barbies), Levodopa and Xanax
Promotes Sleepiness
St. Johns Wart

Fights Mild Depression

Promotes Sleepiness

Fights Viruses

Fights redness, heat and pain in the tissues

Do not take with other depression pills

Do not take with pills that fight viruses

Do not take with Cyclosporine

Saw Palmetto
Fights bacteria in the urine
May cause headaches
Helps eliminate extra water in the body
Large amounts can cause diarrhea
Fights redness, heat and pain in the tissues
Decreases male hormones
Valerian
Relaxes and helps with sleep
May increase the side effects of sedating pills
SAMe
Fights mild depression
Do not use with Bipolar disorders
Decreases pain from arthritis
Fights liver disease
Ginger

Decreases stomach problems

Fights redness, heat and pain in the tissues

Decreases clotting of cells

May cause bleeding with Warfarin or Coumadin
Licorice
Stomach Ulcers
Do not take with Warfarin or Coumadin
Chronic liver disease
May increase blood pressure