Things that can affect your medication

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Medicine is one of the effective treatments for most diseases. However, in order to achieve the most optimal effect, in the process of using the drug, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of issues such as drug preservation, drug interactions, drug combinations, etc. effectiveness of the medication the patient is taking.
Things that affect a patient's medication include:

1. Some things should not be combined

As we all know, some drugs will not work when combined with each other. Besides, the foods and drinks that are put into the body can also affect the medicine taken by the patient. Before taking the medicine for the first time, it is necessary to consult with the treating doctor and pharmacist to understand the list of foods and other drugs to avoid while taking the medicine.

2. Eat grapefruit while taking medicine

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit that has the ability to change some cells in the intestine, so it affects the absorption and movement of drugs in the body. According to statistics, eating grapefruit while taking medicine can affect the effectiveness of more than 50 drugs. For example, grapefruit can reduce the effectiveness of the drug Fexofenadine or make other drugs like Atorvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, become too active.

3. Milk

Milk and dairy products can make it difficult for your body to process some antibiotics. In milk, minerals like calcium and magnesium are part of the problem, along with casein proteins. Therefore, if the patient is being treated with antibiotics, they should be careful about the use of milk during this process.

4. Licorice

Some patients often use licorice as an herbal remedy to solve digestive problems, others see licorice as a flavoring in food processing. However, licorice contains Glycyrrhizin, a chemical that can weaken the effect of some drugs, including Cyclosporine, which is used in patients who have undergone organ transplants.

5. Chocolate

Dark chocolate can weaken the effect of sedatives or sleeping pills such as Zolpidem Tartrate. It may also increase the strength of some stimulant drugs such as Methylphenidate. In the case of patients taking MAO inhibitors, which are drugs for depression, chocolate can cause patients to face dangerously high blood pressure.

6. Iron supplement

When adding iron to the body, it also means that the effect of Levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism will also be reduced. If you are taking this medicine and a multivitamin, consider whether the multivitamin contains iron or not, if so consult your doctor about taking the medicine and vitamins at different times of the day to limit this drug interaction.

7. Wine

Alcohol makes drugs less effective, even ineffective in treating diseases, typically drugs for high blood pressure and drugs for cardiovascular diseases. Alcohol also makes certain other drugs work harder than they should or cause dangerous side effects.

8. Coffee

Coffee can weaken antipsychotic drugs such as Lithium and Clozapine, as well as increase the activity and side effects of other drugs such as Aspirin, Epinephrine in the treatment of severe allergic reactions, or Albuterol in the treatment respiratory diseases. Coffee also makes it harder for the body to absorb and use iron.

9. Antihistamines

Antihistamines have the effect of reducing sneezing and runny nose in allergic diseases, but it also contributes to the ineffectiveness of antihypertensive drugs when combined with drugs. Antihistamines also increase the user's heart rate, so if patients are taking blood pressure medication, there should be more appropriate indications in the treatment of allergies.

10. Antiepileptic Drugs AED

AEDs are effective in controlling seizures, but there are some drug interactions that occur when taken with birth control pills that reduce the effectiveness of this drug. In addition, the drug also increases the effect of some other drugs as well as makes the side effects worse.

11. Vitamin K

In patients taking Warfarin for treatment and prevention of thrombosis, it is necessary to pay attention to the amount of vitamin K taken into the body. Medicines can thin the blood, increasing the risk of blood clots. The foods that contain a lot of vitamin K that the patient should be aware of are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, parsley, spinach... Patients also need to be careful to eat the same amount of these foods every day. days for the concentration of Warfarin in the blood to remain constant.

12. Ginseng

Ginseng reduces the effect of Warfarin, making the patient more prone to bleeding while taking anticoagulants such as Heparin, Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen... If the patient is taking anticoagulants. By inhibiting MAO, ginseng can cause headaches, trouble sleeping, hyperactivity or nervousness.

13. Herbal St. John's Wort

This herb is often used on patients with depression, when taken, can cause the liver of the patient to release enzymes that weaken the effect of certain drugs such as Lovastatin in the treatment of cholesterol, Sildenafil. in the treatment of erectile dysfunction or the drug Digoxin in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

14. Herbal Ginkgo Biloba

This precious herb is often used to treat and prevent high blood pressure, treat dementia, tinnitus and a number of other conditions. When taken with antiepileptic drugs such as Carbamazepine or Valproic Acid, it can cause drug interactions and reduce the effectiveness of these drugs.

15. Take the medicine according to the instructions for use

According to statistics, only about 50% of drugs are taken as prescribed and patients tend to take less than the body needs to cure the disease. In addition, taking the drug at any time of the day, randomly, and the interval between doses is too large, making the treatment effect not high. Therefore, patients need to have a specific treatment plan and strictly follow the time to take the medicine given by the doctor.
Conclusion The use of drugs to treat diseases needs to be done in the right process, at the right time and with the right method to be effective for the health of the patient. Patients need to actively learn as well as consult with the treating doctor and pharmacist about drugs and foods to avoid as well as appropriate drug combinations to minimize the risk of drug interactions and dangerous side effects. dangerous.
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Reference source: webmd.com