Health Tip: Drug and Food Interactions

(HealthDay News) - Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can negatively interact with foods, supplements or other drugs.

Here are guidelines to help prevent food-drug interactions, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Check prescription and over-the-counter drug labels to see if they contain any warnings.
• Follow directions on all medications carefully.
• Unless you get your doctor''s OK, never break up pills and mix them with food, and never empty capsules into food.
• Take medications with a whole glass of water, unless your doctor has given you other instructions. Never take medications with alcohol.
• Don''t take your medications at the same time as you take vitamins or dietary supplements.
• Don''t mix medications in a hot drink, as the heat may affect the medication.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Dec. 25, 2007

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