#medication interactions

[chronicillnessresourcelibrary]

Medications and Teas You Shouldn't Mix

"While seemingly harmless, some teas can interact with over-the-counter and prescription medications, making your medicines less effective or increasing the risk of side effects."

Some types of tea can affect how OTC medicines like iron, omeprazole, folic acid, and aspirin work and may increase the risk of side effects

(link to original article here)

" 1. Aspirin Some teas, such as cranberry, ginger, and ginkgo biloba, may interact with aspirin and increase the risk of bleeding, particularly when consumed in large amounts.

One serious side effect of aspirin is that it can slow blood clotting, making it easier to bleed, especially in the stomach and brain.

2. Iron Teas high in tannins, such as green and black tea, can reduce iron absorption because tannins form complexes with iron, making it unavailable for use by the body.

This may be especially concerning for people at risk of low iron levels who rely on iron supplements, including women who are menstruating, pregnant people, or those who have just had a baby, or long-distance runners.

However, some researchers found that taking these teas at least one hour before or after taking iron can help reduce complex formation, thereby increasing iron absorption.

3. Folic Acid Some studies suggest that excessive green tea intake can significantly reduce blood folate levels.

Catechins, an antioxidant found in some teas like green and oolong teas, can also reduce how much folate your body can absorb.

As a result, experts advise pregnant women to limit consumption of these teas as they may increase the risk of spina bifida in their babies. Spina bifida is a birth disorder in which the spine doesn’t fully develop, and not getting enough folic acid during pregnancy is a risk factor.

4. Acetaminophen

Some teas, such as Kava tea and hibiscus tea, may affect how Tylenol (acetaminophen) works and increase its side effects.

Acetaminophen and kava both carry a risk of increased liver toxicity, especially when taken in high doses. Therefore, consuming kava tea while taking acetaminophen may further increase your risk of liver injury.

Other teas, such as hibiscus tea, have been found to increase the removal of acetaminophen from the blood, which can make the acetaminophen less effective or cause its effect on pain relief not to last long.

Some researchers recommend taking acetaminophen about 3 to 4 hours before drinking hibiscus tea to avoid shortening the effects of the medication.

5. Omeprazole Some studies have found that teas containing extracts of gingko biloba, goldenseal, and ginger may affect how omeprazole works.

... One serious side effect associated with omeprazole is the risk of bleeding. Since ginkgo biloba extracts have similar side effects, taking them together may increase your risk of bleeding. In addition, teas like golden seal and ginger can also increase stomach acid and interfere with the effectiveness of antacids (medicines used to neutralize stomach acid) and omeprazole.

6. Birth Control Pills Some studies suggest that taking chamomile or St. John's wort along with birth control pills might decrease the effects of birth control pills.

If you are taking any of these supplements, it may help to space them appropriately or, if necessary, switch to a different herbal tea.

7. Allergy Medicines Some herbal teas, such as St. John’s wort and black cohosh, may reduce the effectiveness of allergy medicines like Allegra (fexofenadine). If you are taking allergy medicines, it may help to reduce the number of tea servings or, if necessary, discontinue them for the duration of treatment."

[221bluescarf]

Just a reminder to always check the labels of your food products.

A warning about medication and Marshmallow root.

I started drinking Olipop, a healthy soda pop alternative, and wow it's tasty! and good for you!

The problem is it contains marshmallow root. It supports digestive health and is apparently a natural remedy for gastrointestinal symptoms, but it coats your stomach and *prevents medications and supplements from being absorbed properly*. It's recommended to not take marshmallow root unless it's at least a few hours before or after taking meds.

I experienced this because I take magnesium with dinner to help me sleep. But after drinking Olipop around the same time I take those pills, I couldn't sleep at all.

It was just coincidence that I looked at the label saw marshmallow root and just got curious (looked it up because that's weird I've never heard of it). Then I realized what happened.

Fortunately I didn't drink it at night or early in the morning (when I take my prescription meds) so it didn't mess with any of my more important meds

Many people just think of alcohol being the only food product that can interact with medication. There's other things too, even some teas.

[spooniestrong]

I have a challenge for all the doctors out there. Can you look at a database of drug interactions before describing new medications to patients with chronic health issues, please and thank you?

(I started having bad vertigo about a week and a half ago, so my doctor put me on Antivert. Except it hasn't been helping, so I looked on a database of drug interactions myself, and guess what? If you take Antivert with gabapentin (which I take 900mg of daily), there is a moderate drug interaction where it "may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating." If you notice, a vertigo medication that causes an increase in dizziness due to a drug reaction... defeats the entire point of vertigo medication? I even looked on the version for prescribers, and the list now includes respiratory depression, and I've struggled to breathe literally since the moment I was born)

Oh FFS... 💙🥄🙄

[artykyn]

Cafes that sell activated charcoal food/beverage products should post signs disclosing that activated charcoal will negate any medications you are on. Like places that post signs informing you that kombucha contains alcohol.

I know I know "blah blah Darwin awards" listen okay people shouldn't have to suffer just because they *don't know something*. This isn't one of those "stupid common sense" things. Warnings are useful, especially when it’s so common these days to push super trendy diet advice full of misinformation.

On that note, casual reminder not to take your ADHD meds too close to having anything with citrus/Vitamin C, and if you’re on antidepressants then stay away from any cold medicine with dextromethorpan.

[magdolenelives]

(via)

[ladylike-foxes]

Me, having ordered a juice a friend insists that I will love without looking at the menu: This is FREAKING DELICIOUS?! What is in this, angel tears?!

Server: Haha, no silly, it's a little mango, some kiwi, but honestly it's like 60% grapefruit juice! 😄

Me, having already chugged the glass, as I realize what was just said: oh no. im not supposed to have grapefruit juice. it interacts poorly with my medications.

Mae: *immediately panicking*

Me: Calm down, baby. I'm not gonna die from one 16oz glass of juice.

Mae: Then why do you look like your life flashed before your eyes?

Me: because i can't order another glass 😢

[ramblingpandas]

Word of advice for anyone on venlafaxine with asthma who comes down with a chest infection this winter, there’s an interaction between venlafaxine and prednisolone (a commonly prescribed steroid for chest infections) that can result in hypokalemia, low potassium that can have potentially serious complications. In my case it results in a bit of muscle pain and excessive thirst/urination, I really make a saving with refillable drinks in restaurants. So if you’re prescribed that combination make sure to up your potassium intake either with supplements or fruit and veg high in potassium.

[daltongraham]

medical cranky below cut

So the latest is that through cluster-fucking by doc and pharmacy to not get me my gabapentin refill (I take 3 different doses), my level got messed up so I decided fuck it, I’m going to just go off it. But I think I went down too fast...maybe? at the same time I ran out of a BP med, stopped taking a couple other meds, and stopped the pot experiment. Some combo of those and probably menopause too led to a disaster of edgy/hyper/nervous/sobbing days last week, along with hot and cold flashes cycling sometimes as fast as every 2 minutes, constant nausea, and some other symptoms.

This was to the point where 2 Zofram (anti-nausea pills) and an ativan had almost no effect. That should have knocked me the fuck out.

I went back up a little bit on the gabapentin last night but still had a very edgy day. Unfortunately, 1 ativan did this time knock me the fuck out for 4 hours, so my little dream of using all this energy to do something fun for once was quashed.

I feel weird and unstable but at the same time, having some energy compared to being in a daze for months is...nicer? It’s just that now it’s too far the other way.

Bipolar shit? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS? NO ONE KNOWS. If there is a God, maybe she knows. But humans simply cannot know what is going on with my many conditions and many meds. No one knows the interactions or can even guess at them. (though my psychiatrist insists that knowing what any 2 meds do to interact is sufficient. no. it’s not.)

Meanwhile I’m supposed to be doing this stupid Freespira breathing shit which pisses me off but is supposed to completely eliminate panic attacks from my life if I do these exercises twice a day for 17 minutes each for a month. And my incredible partner paid $1200 for it (because of course insurance won’t pay) so I have to try it. Don’t think it will change my agoraphobia tho. I’m actually hoping that the agoraphobia is just magically gone now, but I didn’t get a chance to try that out today. cuz of the ativan.

Fucking spoonie life.