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Pharmacy

Food and Drug Interactions

Certain food products can alter the effect of medications. The Pharmacies at Inland Valley and Rancho Springs strive to keep patients informed about their medications. To ensure your medications work effectively, discuss their use with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. All medications should be taken with a full glass of water unless otherwise specified.

Antibiotics

AMOXICILLIN, AMPICILLIN
Best if taken one hour before or two hours after a meal. May be taken with food to minimize stomach upset. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur.

CIPRO, TETRACYCLINE, FLOXIN
Take one hour before or two hours after a meal. Avoid dairy products within two hours of taking. Take with food if stomach upset occurs. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. Do not take with antacids.

E-MYCIN, ERTHROMYCIN
Best if taken on an empty stomach. Do not take with fruit or acidic juices. Take with food if stomach upset occurs. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur.

FLAGYL (METRONIDAZOLE)
No alcohol. Take with food if stomach upset occurs. Metallic taste may occur.

KEFLEX
Food may alter absorption. Take with food if stomach upset occurs. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur.

MACRODANTIN, NITROFURANTON, SEPTRA
Take with milk or food to increase absorption and minimize stomach upset. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. With Septra, drink plenty of fluids.

Anti-cholesterol

LOPID (GEMFIBROZIL), MEVACOR (LOVASTATIN)
Follow a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet.

Anti-coagulant

COUMADIN (WARFARIN)
Avoid or limit to 1/2 cup per day foods with Vitamin K (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, greens, spinach, soybean oil, fried or boiled onions, herbal and green teas and beef liver), unless you consistently eat these most days of the week.

Anti-diabetic

DIABETA, DIABINESE, GLUCOPHAGE, GLUCOTROL, GLYBURIDE, MICRONASE,
Take 1/2 hour before meals. Follow a diabetic diet: restrict carbohydrates and sugar intake. No alcohol. Hypoglycemia may occur with inadequate food intake, excessive exercise or alcohol. Nausea, vomiting or metallic taste may occur.

Anti-inflammatory

MOTRIN, ASPIRIN, NAPROSYN, ANSAID, CHINORIL
Take with food or milk. Nausea, vomiting or stomach upset may occur.

Anti-Parkinsonism

LEVADOPA, SINEMET
Take with food, preferably with a high-carbohydrate snack at least one hour before or two hours after a high-protein meal. Do not take with acidic fruit or vegetable juices or carbonated beverages. Maintain an adequate diet and include a Vitamin C source. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite or altered taste may occur.

Cardiovascular

CALAN, CALAN SR (DILTIAZEM), NORVASC, PROCARDIA, PROCARDIA XL, (NIFEDIPINE)
Follow a low-sodium diet. Limit caffeine intake.

CAPOTEN (CAPTOPRIL), PRINIVIL, VASOTEC (ENALAPRIL), ZESTRIL (LISINOPRIL)
Follow a low-sodium diet. Avoid salt substitutes and high potassium diet if recommended by your doctor.

INDERAL (PROPANOLOL)
Take with meals for increased absorption. Follow a low-sodium diet. Nausea, vomiting, constipation or abdominal cramping may occur. If diabetic, monitor blood sugar levels closely.

LANOXIN (DIGOXIN)
Take one hour before or two hours after a meal. Follow a low-sodium and high-potassium diet. Limit natural licorice.

LOPRESSOR (METOPROLOL), TENORMIN (ATENOLOL)
Follow a low-sodium diet.

Corticosteroids

MEDROL (HYDROCORTISONE), PREDNISOLONE, PREDNISONE
Follow a low-sodium and high-protein, -calcium and -potassium diet. Limit excessive carbohydrates. Supplement Vitamin A, C, D and calcium. Stomach upset, increased appetite, weight gain and increased blood sugar may occur. Take Prednisone with milk or food.

Diuretics

ALDACTONE (SPIRONOLACTONE)
Take with milk or food. Follow a low-sodium diet. Avoid excessive potassium, salt substitutes and natural licorice. Diarrhea, stomach cramping, or increased thirst may occur.

DYAZIDE (HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE), MAXZIDE
Take with food to decrease nausea and increase absorption. Follow a low-sodium diet. High-potassium diet if recommended by your doctor. Limit alcohol. Avoid natural licorice. Nausea, vomiting or stomach upset may occur.

LASIX (FURSEMIDE)
Follow a low-sodium and high-potassium diet. Limit alcohol. Avoid natural licorice. Loss of appetite or dry mouth may occur.

Laxatives

COLACE (DOCUSATE SODIUM), METAMUCIL, DULCOLAX*
Follow a balanced diet. Maintain adequate fluid intake. Dulcolax best taken on an empty stomach.

Respiratory

ALBUTEROL, PROVENTIL
Take with milk or food. Limit caffeine. Stomach upset, peculiar taste or increased appetite may occur.

SLOBID, THEOPHYLINE, THEODUR,
Avoid caffeinated foods and beverages (chocolate, coffee, cola, etc.) and extreme changes in protein and carbohydrate intake. Charbroiled foods may cause a bitter taste.

Sedatives

VALIUM, XANAX
Take with milk or food if stomach upset occurs. Avoid alcohol.

Thyroid

LEVOTHROID, LEVOXINE, SYNTROID (LEVOTHYROXINE)
Limit soy protein products and Brassica family vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, kale, rutabaga and turnips). Changes in appetite, weight loss, elevated blood sugar or decreased cholesterol may occur.

Problems and Suggestions

Drugs may also have an indirect effect on nutritional status by inducing side effects such as nausea, altered sense of taste, dry mouth, heartburn, diarrhea and/or loss of appetite.

ALTERED TASTE PERCEPTION, BITTER TASTE OR AFTERTASTE

Mask the taste of the drug with pulpy fruits (applesauce, crushed pineapple, etc.).
Use sugarless gum, water or lemon juice as a mouth rinse.
Use hard or chewy candies.

LOSS OF APPETITE

Eat small, frequent and attractively prepared meals.
Drink juice between meals.
Drink flavored waters.
Eat hard or chewy candies.

DRY OR SORE MOUTH

East moistened dried foods.
Decrease the use of dry or salty foods or snacks.
Avoid spicy, rough textured, or highly acidic foods.
Add milk-flavored sauces, gravies or syrups to food.
Suck on ice chips or popsicles.
Include cold foods or beverages in meals or snacks.
Chew sugarless gum between meals.

HEARTBURN

Eat a small amount of food frequently. Avoid overeating.
Control intake of alcohol, tea, coffee or other caffeinated beverages, and chocolate, peppermint or pepper.
Avoid citrus juice, tomato products and other acidic foods or concentrated fruit beverages.
Avoid spicy, greasy, fried or fatty foods.
Avoid eating before bedtime.

NAUSEA

Eat frequent meals and snacks.
Serve beverages after meals or limit beverage intake with meals.
Eat toasted or dry breads, crackers or ready-to-eat cereals.
Drink cold, clear beverages or juices.
Avoid fried, greasy or fatty foods.

DIARRHEA

Drink adequate fluids, especially ones high in potassium.
Eat small, frequent meals and snacks.
Avoid very hot or cold beverages or food.
Avoid foods high in fiber or fat, alcohol, milk products and caffeine.

Dietary Sources

Use the following guide to develop a healthy diet. You should avoid high-sodium or high-cholesterol diets, and enjoy foods rich in calcium, fiber and potassium, unless otherwise directed by your physician.

FOODS HIGH IN FIBER
Fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, whole grain cereals and breads, bran and lentils

CALCIUM-RICH FOODS
Milk, cottage and processed cheeses, yogurt, apricots, figs, oranges, grapefruit, broccoli, collard greens, kale, spinach, turnip greens, red kidney beans, soybeans, pink salmon, canned sardines (may be high in sodium), clams, oysters and shrimp

FOODS HIGH IN SODIUM
Table salt, soy sauce, bottled salad dressing, meat tenderizers, salted pretzels, popcorn, nuts, chips, luncheon meats, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, olives, smoked foods, canned and packaged foods, tuna, soup, vegetables, cake and pudding mixes, instant rice and potato mixes and cheese

FOODS HIGH IN POTASSIUM
Milk, beef, pork, fish, poultry, apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, dates, figs, honeydew, orange juice, prunes, prune juice, raisins, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lima beans, white potatoes, soybeans, spinach, winter squash (acorn and butternut), sweet potatoes, tomato products, bran cereal, raisin bran and salt substitutes

FOODS HIGH IN FAT AND CHOLESTEROL
Fatty meats, hot dogs, organ meats, sausage, bacon, luncheon meats, egg yolks (limit 3 per week), whole milk and whole milk products (yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese), sour cream, cream cheese, ice cream, pastries, cookies, cakes, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, doughnuts, chocolate, coconut oil, lard, palm oil, butter, meat drippings, salad dressings, mayonnaise, coconut, nuts, peanut butter and cream soups (foods made with fat-free or low-fat variations are allowed)