Foods that can Interact with your Medication

[jeanjeannie50]

I found this article in the Daily Mail today interesting. We all know about grapefruit, but amazing what other types of food can have on our different medications:

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

Jean

[mjames1]

Jean, that's really interesting and informative. Thanks!

Loved the part about standardized testing using the same food for years for drug interactions -- "two slices of toast with butter, two slices of fried bacon, two fried eggs, 113g of hash browns and 240ml of whole milk". Def higher fat, also making me hungry!

I wonder if this accounts, at least in some part, why different folks have different side effects with some of the drugs, as our diets differ from one another.

Jim

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to mjames1]

Could be why some people have side effects, I guess we'll never know! I always try to take my meds exactly as it says in the instructions. Old goody two shoes - that I am. Mmm bacon sandwich

[Singwell in reply to mjames1]

Good grief - that's a recipe for AF right there

[Bagrat]

This was most interesting (usually avoid Daily Mail like the plague) Thankyou @jeanjeannie50.Particularly liked "Previously, people taking warfarin were advised to avoid spinach, kale and other leafy greens.

This is because they are rich in vitamin K, which plays a key role in forming proteins that enable your blood to clot, explains Professor Maxwell — and warfarin helps prevent blood clots by blocking vitamin K’s actions, so if you are eating a lot of vitamin K, it reduces the drug’s effect on blood clots.

But research in 2019 from Montreal University found that people with a regular healthy intake of leafy greens actually had ‘better controlled’ blood clotting, says Professor Maxwell. It was not the amount of vegetable intake that mattered but its stability.

Advice: ‘It’s important to keep your vitamin K intake stable so that blood clotting stays at the desired level, so consistent consumption of foods rich in vitamin K is key,’ says Professor Maxwell. ‘If you’re taking warfarin, you should follow normal NHS recommendations to eat a portion of leafy greens a day.’"

I think many ofus have been saying this for a very long time!!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Bagrat]

Yes, BobD is always saying he eats greens regularly and promotes that and also being consistent with the amount.

[secondtry in reply to Bagrat]

Phew...I have adopted 'a little of everything' diet.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

G'day Bagrat,

Thats pretty much me too ...... I decided right at the beginning when I was put on Warfarin - no concessions to it at all .... take no prisoners ......

😇😇😇 .... and thats just what I've done, beer, wines, gin and tonic, dessert wines et al - green veggies those that I like anyway. I'm notorious for messing about with my greens - hate the bloody stuff, always have done ... as a kid I used to drive my parents bonkers 'cos I wouldn't eat them

😂😂😂..... but - as BobD has said so often, whatever I do I do it consistently, and consistently well. That said, whenever my INR plays up drops too low, goes too high or in some way goes crazy its because I mess around with my green veggie intake.

John

[Chrissy7]

Hi Jean Thanks for this - I can’t eat a lot of foods that contain tyramine- cheese, pickles, smoked meat, ripe fruit etc.

When I eat a lot of them it will bring on an episode.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Chrissy7]

I haven't heard anyone else say this before Chrissy. Good for forum members to be aware of though.

[Chrissy7 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

When I mentioned this in an earlier post someone else answered me and said they had the same thingThese foods can raise your blood pressure and heart rate if you eat enough of them. Thus they can sit off atrial tachycardia I have read but don’t quote me on this because I’m no doctor

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Chrissy7]

I think people's experiences are more interesting and noteworthy than what doctors have to say about the effects of food, which is precious little. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my AF. I didn't realise until I read the above link that they can have an effect on medication.

[Barb1]

I love my morning grapefruit when in Cyprus - like now! Seems I can go on enjoying it.

[secondtry]

Thanks Jean, good to know.

[Murdy1]

Thanks so much for sharing, knew nothing about this 😕

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Murdy1]

Nor me, I can't help but wonder why we aren't made aware of this when we commence any medication. A little handout sheet would be ideal.

[Snowgirl65]

Thanks for posting this, Jean -- very informative.

[Lavendermay]

Hi Jean Jeannie 50 , this is one of my bug bears, doctors always tell you diet and food products don’t make any difference , oh apart from full fat food , stick to no fat low fat ,but they full of sugar and artificial sweeteners, so where do stand there, I take warfarin , so no leafy greens , but did you know so many other things have a bad affect on it to, my biggest shock gherkins, eaten as courgette, no problem , pickled they are much worse than a pile of spinach, I found out the hard way, and that goes for many food stuffs, anything citrus will affect heart drugs , read the American sites they can’t afford to make mistakes it costs to much in lawsuits.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lavendermay]

I'm on Warfarin, but still eat things like a few sprouts and green salad once or twice a week. I have my own monitor so can check what my INR is. My INR has never, ever been steady. Also I can get severe nosebleeds so like to keep my results on the slightly lower side of 2.5.

I've never eaten gherkins and am not keen on courgettes, but thank you for mentioning those facts as people that eat them certainly do need to know. Do you think it may be anything that's pickled that takes your INR up?

Jean

[Lavendermay in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi again, yes I also get nosebleeds, mine aren’t to bad , but my nose seems to drip blood for no reason and when I’m not expecting it can be very embarrassing.I seem to have stabilised at about 2.5 but through very strict eating, life’s a pain sometimes isn’t it,

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lavendermay]

Yes, living with AF and the drugs we have to take for AF can certainly be a pain.

Two years ago my nose poured with blood and wouldn't stop, a neighbour came over and called paramedics, they couldn't stop it either so took me to hospital. They couldn't stop it there, cauterisation didn't work and I was asked how long it had been bleeding so fast. I was told that I'd probably lost at least half a litre of blood before getting there and eventually ended up having a huge bung stuck up my nose and inflated. I was kept in and admitted to a ward. The side of my face with the bung up my nostril became swollen and I looked dreadful, so they deflated the bung a little the next morning. I was moved to a different word, what did I do there but sit and cry I just couldn't stop. The nurse told me not to worry as she'd seen grown men cry in my situation too. Honestly, I gave birth to two babies without a murmur, there was something so dreadful about the situation, I think it was because I didn't feel in control at all. I'd honestly rather shoot myself than have that happen again.

[Lavendermay in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean Jeannie. Must have been frightening, I’m no good with hospitals, and as you say that feeling of not being in control, i know we should be grateful we’re still here, and we are , but just sometimes you want to run so fast you leave it all behind, if only our hearts would allow that , take care.

[Hidden]

Thanks for that Jean. I found the bits on Bananas and Warfarin most interesting.

John

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, me too, I have a banana every morning with my breakfast. sometimes eat one in the evening. I have to say though that I feel really well at the moment, so they can't be doing any harm.

Jean