8 Drug-Food Interactions for Seniors to Avoid
With 81% of adults aged 57-85 taking prescription medication, Comfort Keepers takes extra caution when developing nutritional plans for Santa Clarita seniors. While prescription medications can provide tremendous health benefits for the elderly, there are certain foods and drinks that can counteract the effectiveness of these medications, and potentially cause negative side effects.
Foods to Look Out For
The following food and drink items are those that the elderly and their caregivers should be careful of:
Bananas: ACE inhibitors such as Capoten, Vasotec, and Prinivil are used to relax blood vessels so that the blood flows more smoothly. However, they also increase the amount of potassium in your body which can cause an irregular heartbeat or palpitations. Potassium rich foods such as bananas should be avoided.
Cheese: Certain antidepressants, specifically MAOIs such as Emsam, can cause blood pressure to spike when mixed with foods that have been aged or fermented. It is best to avoid cheese all together, to minimize the chance of a stroke.
Dairy Products: If you elderly loved one takes a multivitamin with iron or an antibiotic, then it is best to avoid consuming dairy such as milk. When ingesting dairy with the medicine, it binds together and forms a complex. Less of the vitamin or antibiotic is absorbed, decreasing the effectiveness of the vitamin or antibiotics.
Grapefruit: When taking cholesterol lowering medicine such as Lipitor or Zocor, it is important to avoid grapefruit entirely. It increases the side effects of the medication, leading to muscle aches and more.
Leafy Greens: If your loved one is taking the blood thinner, it is best to regular the consumption of dark, leafy greens such as collard greens, spinach, and kale. Blood thinners reduce the liver’s production of vitamin K, and leafy greens may counteract this with their Vitamin K rich leaves.
Alcohol: Acetaminophens are the common go-to medicine for muscles aches, headaches, or arthritis. However, if your senior takes a Tylenol, it can increase your chance for liver damage by having three or more alcoholic beverages a day. It is best to avoid alcohol all together when taking acetaminophens.
Use In-Home Caregivers to Help
While there are many more food and drinks to avoid when taking certain medications, these are some of the most common that the elderly should be cautious of. Utilizing the services of an in-home caregiver is a good way to make sure that your senior’s medication and food intake is properly monitored. Comfort Keepers in Santa Clarita offers a variety of services so you can rest easy knowing that your loved one is in good hands. Call us or visit our website for more information.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200
