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