6 Surprising Medication Interactions Everyone Should Know

About 60 percent to 70 percent of Americans aged 50 or older take at least one prescription drug. If you’re over 65 years old, you’re more than likely on two or more.

Although it’s common knowledge that prescription drugs can have serious or even deadly interactions with one another, we might forget that supplements, herbal remedies, over-the-counter medications and everyday foods—while seemingly innocuous—can be just as risky a mix when combined with prescription meds.

Some interactions increase a drug’s potency, turning a regular dose into an overdose. Other interactions decrease a medication’s effectiveness, rendering it nearly useless.

It’s likely that your prescribing doctor and pharmacist are on the lookout for interactions on your medication list.

Nonetheless, they might not be aware of non-prescription drugs or foods you’re taking in on a regular basis.

So the risks of exposure to adverse interactions with these mixes may be even higher.

Here are a few common interactions to keep in mind:

Antidepressants and ibuprofen

The most prescribed group of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft.

These drugs are so popular, in part, because they’re relatively safe to take with many other medications. However, you should avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), if you’re on SSRIs.

The mix can trigger irritation of the stomach lining, called gastritis, and in severe cases, may even result in intestinal bleeding.

Antibiotics and dairy

Cipro and Levaquin are part of a group of commonly prescribed antibiotics called quinolones. As these drugs are metabolized, they bind to calcium and iron in your body.

Dairy products contain enough of these nutrients to bind to the antibiotics, blocking their absorption and making them less effective.

You should also avoid calcium and iron supplements when taking the antibiotics for the same reason.

Statins and grapefruit juice

Statins (Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor) are the most-prescribed cholesterol-lowering group of drugs.

It’s usually fine to take the meds with breakfast but beware: Grapefruit juice should be taken off the menu.

The juice blocks an enzyme needed to break down the cholesterol drugs in the bloodstream, which increases their concentration in the blood.

This interaction can worsen side effects of the drugs, such as muscle aches, and render them less-effective overall.

St. John’s wort and birth control pills

St. John’s wort is an herbal treatment used to improve depressive mood symptoms.

Although it’s considered “natural,” it’s notorious for its adverse interactions with dozens of other drugs, including many types of birth control pills.

St. John’s wort speeds up enzymes involved in the metabolism of the contraceptive and makes it less effective or, in some cases, entirely ineffective.

For women who are unaware of the interaction and have been taking their birth control diligently, the effects could lead to an unexpected surprise.

Melatonin and prescription sedatives

Natural doesn’t mean safe. Melatonin is touted as a natural remedy for insomnia, often with the subtle suggestion that it’s harmless.

Nonetheless, melatonin can cause dangerous sedation when mixed with prescription drugs like benzodiazepines, sleep drugs or muscle relaxers.

It can also cause fluctuations in blood sugar in diabetics and clotting problems for people on anticoagulants.

Make sure to talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any meds, natural or not.

Coffee and thyroid medication

In my experience, patients are less likely to forget their meds when they take them in the morning, perhaps because morning rituals tend to be more consistent than other times of day.

T4 thyroid medications, such as Levothyroxine, are dosed with incredible precision. So much so, that it’s important to take them not just every day but at the exact same time every day.

This makes the morning breakfast routine ideal for keeping your timing perfect—unless you’re a coffee drinker.

Some research suggests that coffee lowers the medication’s “peak incremental rise,” a marker of how well it’s being absorbed, by up to 36 percent. And tea drinkers aren’t necessarily in the clear. Herbal and black teas may also cause similar issues.

Your best bet: Take your morning meds at least an hour after finishing up your cup of joe.

To learn more about potential interactions with your medications, there are some reliable and easy-to-use online tools available.

The next time you need to fill a prescription, don’t forget to check RxSaver.com for the best price.

Just enter your drug information on the site or app, check out the prices at nearby pharmacies, and you might find yourself saving up to 85 percent on your medication!