Family Doctor 2008

feeling great DRUG INTERACTIONS Drug interactions When you take multiple medications, you need to be careful. Sometimes drugs can be harmful when they interact with each other or with food, caﬀeine or alcohol. By Angelike M. Gaunt medication, you need to be cautious. When some drugs interact, they may become dangerous, ineffective or cause potential problems to your health. Drug interactions with food, alcohol, caffeine or certain medical conditions may also be harmful. The effects of each drug may increase or decrease when medications are combined. Sometimes, drug-to-drug interactions may cause serious side effects, which may vary from mild to fatal. Prescription drugs may interact with each other and with nonprescription drugs. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs may also interact with each other. Some types of food may slow drug absorption, increase or reduce a drug’s effectiveness, or cause unexpected side effects. However, some medicines may be easier to tolerate if taken with food. Check the medication label to see if you can take your medicine with food or if it should be taken on an empty stomach. Alcohol and caffeine may also affect how drugs work. For example, mixing alcohol with beta blockers, a type of medicine used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems, may lower your blood pressure excessively. Alcohol also drowsiness may if increase M edicines help us ﬁght disease and treat many medical problems. But if you take different types of machinery. Combining large amounts of caffeine with bronchodilators — used to treat asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema — may not be safe because this type of medicine and caffeine both stimulate the central nervous system. What you need to tell your doctor When you go to your doctor, take a list of all your medications with you. Include any OTC medicines, supplements, herbal products or vitamins you take on this list. Also, if you have an existing medical condition, be sure to let your doctor know. Some drugs may be harmful to people who have certain medical conditions. It’s also important to tell your doctor if you know that you’re allergic to certain chemicals that may be present in drugs. You can take some steps to get the most out of your medications and reduce the risk of drug interactions. Here’s what you can do to be safe: ● Listen carefully to your doctor’s instruc● Ask your pharmacist for the package insert of You need to be cautious if you take different types of medication. your prescription medications. Inserts include useful information about drug interactions. ● Read OTC medication labels thoroughly. tions. Do exactly what he or she says. ● Be sure to tell your doctor about all the Labels contain essential information about directions, doses, warnings and drug interactions. Angelike M. Gaunt is a senior associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. different medications you take, including OTC drugs. Tell your doctor how often you take your medication and what dose you are taking. ● Also tell your doctor about different dietary DID YOU KNOW? Some chemicals found in grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with different types of medications and lead to serious health problems. or herbal supplements you take. Supplements may interfere with certain medication components, reducing the drug’s effectiveness or causing side effects. ● Every time your doctor prescribes a new consumed with certain medications, making it dangerous to drive or operate 20 familydoctor 2008 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/121.xml Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/druginformation/DrugHerbindex drug, ask about possible interactions with any foods or beverages. http://familydoctor.org/121.xml http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/druginformation/DrugHerbindex http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/druginformation/DrugHerbindex

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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