Fortunately, the number of cases in which foods and drugs interact in a serious and harmful way is small. Most of the interactions are relatively minor.

The best way to protect yourself from an unexpected complication between diet and drugs is to know what you're taking and what effects it has. That's true for both prescription and over-the-counter medications.

A food-drug interaction can occur when the food you eat affects the ingredients in a medication you are taking, preventing the medicine from working the way it should. Food-drug interactions can happen with both prescription and over-the-counter medications, including antacids, vitamins and iron pills.

Some nutrients can affect the way you metabolize certain drugs by binding with drug ingredients, thus reducing their absorption or speeding their elimination. For example, the acidity of fruit juice may decrease the effectiveness of antibiotics such as penicillin. Dairy products may blunt the infection-fighting effects of tetracycline. Anti-depressants called MAO inhibitors are dangerous when mixed with foods or drinks that contain tyramine (beer, red wine, and some cheeses).

Not all medications are affected by food, but many can be affected by what you eat and when you eat it. Sometimes, taking medications at the same time you eat may interfere with the way your stomach and intestines absorb medication. Other medications are recommended to be taken with food. Be sure to ask your physician or pharmacist for specific directions on eating prior to or after taking any medication.

Many medications cause drowsiness. When you drink alcohol with these medicines, the drowsiness is increased and can lead to coma and possibly death. Don't put your health at risk! Talk openly with your healthcare provider about alcohol use while taking your medications.

Ask questions

Ask the physician when you're given a prescription. Ask the pharmacist about both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Here are some specific questions you should have answered:

1. Are there any foods that I should avoid while using this medication?

2. Are there any foods I should take to enhance the effectiveness of the medication?

3. Will this medication interfere with my nutritional status and, if so, are there any foods that I should be eating more of because of using this drug?

4. Would a vitamin or mineral supplement or other medication interfere with the action of this drug?

Follow directions

Read all information that comes with the medicine and follow all directions carefully.

Eat wisely

Food and drug interactions are more likely to cause problems when the diet is not balanced. The individual who eats large amounts of a particular food or inadequate amounts of another may be a candidate for problems.

For example, the individual who eats a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, doesn't need to worry about the minor destruction of vitamin C by aspirin. It is the person eating a marginally adequate diet who most needs to be concerned.

What you should remember about food-drug interactions:

• Read the prescription label on the container. If you do not understand something, or think you need more information, ask your physician or pharmacist.
• Read directions, warnings and interaction precautions printed on all medicine labels and package inserts. Even over-the-counter medications can cause problems.
• Take medicine with a full glass of water.
• Do not stir medicine into your food or take capsules apart (unless directed by your physician). This may change the way the drug works.
• Do not take vitamin pills at the same time you take medication-vitamins and minerals can interact with some drugs.
• Do not mix medication into hot drinks, because the heat from the drink may destroy the effectiveness of the drug.
• Never take medication with alcoholic drinks.
• Be sure to tell your physician and pharmacist about all medications you are taking, both prescription and non-prescription.