If I Take This Drug
with That Drug,
What Will Happen?
This chart is to help you make informed
decisions
to improve the interaction of your medications with other drugs and
foods.
Any questions raised should be discussed with your health care provider.
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| Antianxiety
drugs:
Valium (diazepam) Xanax (alprazolam |
dizziness > falls > broken hip > death | Acidblocker:
Tagamet (cimetidine) |
| Antibiotics:
Sulfa, Septra, Bactrim, Cotrim, (co-trimoxazole) SMZ-TMP |
life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Anticoagulant:
Coumadin (warfarin) |
| Anticoagulant:
Coumadin (warfarin) |
life-threatening, ineffective immune suppression (organ rejection) | Transplant Drug:
Sandimmune, Neoral (cyclosporine) |
| Gantrisin (sulfisoxazole) | bone marrow suppression, anemia, death | Rheumatrex (methotrexate) |
| Anticoagulant:
Coumadin (warfarin) |
blood clots | Barbituates:
Phenobarbital, Mebaral Fiorinal, Fioricet, Butisol |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Any Sulfa-type Antibiotic |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Antibiotic:
Flagyl (metronidazole) |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | NSAID's (aspirin and many anti-inflammatory drugs used for pain and arthritis |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Breast Cancer Drug:
Nolvadex (tamoxifen) |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Endometriosis Drug:
Danocrine (danazol) |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Heart Drug:
Cordarone, Pacerone (amiodarone) |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | life-threatening bleeding, hemorrhaging | Ulcer Drug:
Tagamet (cimetidine) |
| Anticonvulsants:
Tegretol (carbamazepine) |
life-threatening carbamazepine toxicity: dizziness, tremors, irregular breathing, tachycardia, impaired consciousness | Antibiotic macrolide type:
Biaxin, Erythromycins, EES, Pediazole, Zithromax |
| Tegretol (carbamazepine) | life-threatening carbamazepine toxicity | Analgesic:
propoxyphene Darvon, Darvon-N, Wygesic, Darvocet-N |
| Hydantoins:
Dilantin, Mesantoin, Peganone |
life-threatening organ rejection | Transplant Drug:
Sandimmune, Neoral (cyclosporine) |
| Antidepressants:
MAO Inihibitors: Parnate, Nardil, Marplan |
arrhythmias, dyspnea, coma, death | Antidepressants:
Tricyclics
Elavil, Norpramin, Pamelor Etc. also anafranil for OCD. |
| MAO Inihibitors:
Parnate, Nardil, Marplan |
restlessness, nausea, shivering, double vision, confusion, muscle contraction, death | Serotonin-types:
Prozac, Soloft, etc |
| MAO Inihibitors:
Parnate, Nardil, Marplan |
agitation, hyperthermia temp>106F, death | Narcotic Anagesis:
Demerol (meperidine) |
| MAO Inihibitors:
Parnate, Nardil, Marplan |
hypertensive crises hyperthermia, hemorrhage stroke, death | High tyramine - content foods: aged cheeses, aged meats as liver pate, salami, sausages, avocados, overripe bananas, brewer's yeast, many others |
| MAO Inihibitors:
Parnate, Nardil, Marplan |
severe heart rhythm disturbances, death | Decongestants and OTC Diet Aids with PPA (phenylpropanolamine) |
| MAO Inihibitors:
Parnate, Nardil, Marplan |
arrhythmias, stroke, death | Decongestants in RX and OTCs:
pseudoephedrine Sudaged, Allegra-D, Claritin-D Cough Syrips with DM (dextromethorphan) |
| Antihistamines
(non-sedating):
Hismanal (astemizole) Seldane (terfenidine)- now off the market |
Abnormal EKG, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, death | Antibiotic (macrolide-type):
Biaxin, Erythromycins, Pediazole, Zithromax |
| Arthritis Drugs: NSAIDS:
aspirin, Advil, Daypro, Feldene, Motrin, Relafen, Voltaren, many others including butazolidin |
life-threatening hemorrhaging | Anticoagulant:
Coumadin (warfarin |
| Arthritis Drugs: NSAIDS:
aspirin, Advil, Daypro, Feldene, Motrin, Relafen, Voltaren, many others including butazolidin |
Methotrexate toxicity: Nausea, vomiting diarrhea, fever, ulcers (oral & GI), kidney failure, incoordination, confusion, blurred vision, coma, death | Methrotrexate |
| Arthritis Drugs: NSAIDS:
aspirin, Advil, Daypro, Feldene, Motrin, Relafen, Voltaren, many others including butazolidin |
Lithium toxicity: diarrhea, drowsiness, weakness, blackouts, slurred speech, kidney failure, incoordination, confusion, blurred vision, coma, death | Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid.) |
| Asthma Drugs:
Theophyllines, Elixophyllin, Slo-bid, Theo-Bid Theolair, Theo-24, Theo-Chron |
Theophylline toxicity:
Nausea, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, restlessness, cardiac arrhythmias, convulsions, death with no warning |
Antibiotics: (quinolones):
Cipro, Floxin, Noroxin, Penetrex, etc. |
| Cholesterol Lowering drugs:
HMG coenzyme A reductase Inhibitors: Mevacor (Iovastatin) Lipitor (atorvastatin) Pravachol (pravastatin) Zocor (simvastatin) |
myopathy, rhabdomyolysis (a severe muscle destruction) leading to kidney failure | Antibiotic (macrolide-type):
Biaxin, Erythromycins, Pediazole, Zithromax |
| Cholesterol Lowering drugs:
HMG coenzyme A reductase Inhibitors: Mevacor (Iovastatin) Lipitor (atorvastatin) Pravachol (pravastatin) Zocor (simvastatin) |
Rhabdomyolysis leading to severe muscle pain and destruction and eventual kidney failure | Other Cholesterol Lowering Agents:
Lopid (gemfibrozil), Niaspan, Nicolar (niacin), Nicotonic acid |
| Diabetic Drugs:
Diabinese, Dymelor (chlorpropamides) Orinase (tolbutamide) |
life-threatening hypoglycemia, coma | Anti-inflammatory:
Butazolin (phenylbutazone) |
| Diuretics:
(Potassium sparing types): Aldactazide, Aldactone (spironolactone), Dyazide, Dyrenium, Maxzide, Midamor |
can lead to dangerous hyperkalemia (elevated potassium blood levels), arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, death | Heart medications for blood
pressure (ACE
Inhibitors):
Accupril, Altace, Capoten, Lotensin, Monopril, Prinivil, Vasotec, Zestril |
| Diuretics:
(Potassium sparing types): Aldactazide, Aldactone (spironolactone), Dyazide, Dyrenium, Maxzide, Midamor |
hyperkalemia, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, death | Potassium tablets (various) Salt Substitutes |
| Heart Drug
(digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
EKG evident Digitalis Toxicity | Anti-arrhythmic quinidines:
Cardioquine, Quinalan Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quinora |
| Heart
Drug (digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
Digitalis Toxicity: heart stops beating (asystole), ventricular fibrillation, death | Cordarone, Pacerone (amiodarone) |
| Heart Drug (digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
Digitalis Toxicity | Rhythmol (propafenone) |
| Heart Drug (digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
hypokalemia, asystole, death | Low potassium from some diuectics (HCTZ, Lasix, Bumex, Lozol) |
| Heart Drug (digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
hypokalemia, asystole, death | Corticosteroids: Prednisone, Hydrocortisone, Medrol, etc. |
| Heart Drug (digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
hyperkalemia, cardiac arrest, death | Diuretics:
(Potassium sparing types): Aldactazide, Aldactone (spironolactone), Dyazide, Dyrenium, Maxzide, Midamor |
| Heart Drug (digitalis):
Lanoxin (digoxin) |
Digitalis Toxicity Hyperkalemia, cardiac arrest, death | Transplant Drug:
Sandimmune, Neoral (cyclosporine) |
| Heart & BP drugs:
BETA-blockers: Blocadren, Cartrol, Corgard, Inderal, Lopressor, Normodyne, Tenormin, Toprol XL, Trandate, Visken |
rebound hypertension, stroke, death | Hypertension Drug
Catapress (clonidine) AVOID sudden discontinued
|
| Heart & BP drugs:
Calcium channel blockers: Adalat, Procardia (nifedipine), Isoptin, Calan, Verelan (verapamil) Cardene, Cardizem, etc. |
possible quinidine toxicity or Calcium channel blocker toxicity | Anti-arrhythmics Quinidine-type:
Quinalan, Cardioquine, Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quinora |
| Tuberculosis Drugs:
(INH, Isoniazid), Nydrazid, Rifampin, Rifadin (rimactane) |
hypertensive crisis, hemorrhage | High tyramine- content foods:
aged cheeses, aged meats such as: liver pate, salami, sausages, avocados, overripe bananas, brewer's yeast, many others |
| Ulcer drugs:
Tagamet (Cimetidine) |
serious hemorrhaging | Anticoagulant:
Coumadin (warfarin) |
| Ulcer drugs:
Tagamet (Cimetidine) |
Theophylline toxicity | Theophylline drugs |
| Ulcer drugs:
Tagamet (Cimetidine) |
Bone marrow suppression | BICNU (carmustine) |
| Propulsid (cisapride) | Cisapride toxicity associated with Prolonged Q-T intervals and possible Torsade de pointes and death | Macrolide Antibiotics:
Erythromycins, Biaxin, Pediazole, Zithromax |
| Propulsid (cisapride) | serious cardiac arrhythmias Torsade de pointes and death | Triazole Anitfunglas:
Nizoral (ketoconazole) Diflucan (fluconazole) Sporanox (itraconazole) |
| Licorice candy | may increase the risk of bleeding or
potentiate
the effects of warfarin therapy
causes increased production of aldosterone, a hormone that regulates the salt and water balance of the body, resulting in a rise of blood pressure. |
Thiazide diuretics, digitalis or other heart medications |
| Grapefruit | increases serum levels of certain cardiac drugs to dangerous levels | Thiazide diuretics, digitalis or other heart medications |
NOTE: This in not an all-inclusive list of potentially lethal drug interactions.
There are thousands of interactions not listed here that could be potentially harmful to ones health and this site does not make claims that these reactions will occur in all situations.
It is imperative you discuss any questions about these issues with your health care provider.
MYTHS
Myth 1:
Herbal products are "natural" and therefore are
always safe to use.
~~~~~~~~
Herbal therapies are definitely on the rise in
the United States, and many people believe them to be safe. On the
contrary,
many herbs have been identified as UNSAFE, including the following:
• borage
• calamus
• coltsfoot
• comfrey
• life root
• sassafras
• chapparal
• germander
• licorice
• ma huang
The following herbs, even though considered
possibly
effective for various conditions, may pose to be only POTENTIALLY SAFE,
or HAZARDOUS in certain conditions:
• feverfew
• garlic
• ginkgo
• Asian ginseng
• saw palmetto
• valerian
• St.John's wort
Be sure to discuss the use of any of these and any herbal product you may want to take with your physician, pharmacist or health care provider.
Myth 2:
Over the Counter (OTC) products are all safe.
The FDA would not allow them to be marketed to consumers if they were
unsafe.
~~~~~~~~
All OTC products are not safe; not even
aspirin,
one of the oldest on the market. If you are allergic to aspirin,
consuming it may cause death.
Myth 3:
I eat ORGANIC FOODS, so they are safe to eat.
I don't need to be concerned with interactions with my medications.
~~~~~~~~
Organic foods have been grown without the use
of dangerous pesticides. They are known to be pesticide free, or less
concentrated
in pesticides than non-organically grown foods. The chemical
composition
of food is equivalent, whether it is organically grown or not. Many
foods
and beverages are known to interact with certain medications. It is
always
wise and safer to check with your physician or pharmacist to assure
there
are no harmful interactions with your medications.
Heart patients should be very careful about
consuming
grapefruit and its juice as well as black licorice while taking some
heart
drugs. Both cause the heart medication to not work properly.
Information taken from several sources:
WEB-MD, Alert-Rx, Physicians Desk Reference,
Walgreens, Yahoo Health
DISCLAIMER:
The materials and information on this site
are
intended for educational and informational purposes only. The materials
and information are not intended to replace the services of a trained
health
professional or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians
and/or
other health care professionals. You should consult your physician on
specific
medical questions, particularly in matters requiring diagnosis or
medical
attention.
