Food & Medicine Safety

Food & Medicine Safety

Learn More About the Medicines You Take

Foods can have unwanted—and sometimes unsafe—effects on your medicines. This chart lists common drug and food interactions. If you have questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug Class
RX Medicine
Tips
Analgesics (pain relievers) 
Percocet (acetaminophen/oxycodone)
Tylenol #3 (acetaminophen/codeine)
Norco, Vicodin (acetaminophen/ hydrocodone)
Avoid drinking alcohol. Take with food to reduce upset stomach. Avoid over-the-counter Tylenol (acetaminophen)-containing products. It’s unsafe to take more than 3,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
Anti-arrhythmics (irregular heart beat)
Cordarone, Pacerone (amiodarone)
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice. May take with or without food, but take the same time each day.
Antibiotics
Ampicillin 
Penicillin

Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
Doxycycline
Tetracycline
Levaquin (levofloxacin)

Flagyl (metronidazole)
Tindamax (tinidazole)




Griseofulvin

Take on an empty stomach for best absorption.
To improve absorption, avoid antacids, iron-containing foods and calcium-rich dairy products.
Avoid alcohol while taking and for 3 days after finishing the medication. Take with food to prevent upset stomach; take probiotics (yogurt or supplements) to prevent diarrhea.
Take with fatty food (ice cream, whole milk or cheese) for better absorption.
Anti-coagulants (blood thinners)
Coumadin, Jantoven (warfarin)
Avoid sudden increase or decrease in foods rich in vitamin K (green leafy vegetables, avocados, soybeans, green tea, bacon, butter, cheese) and multivitamins with vitamin K. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list. Limit alcohol and cranberry juice.
Antidepressants
Paxil (paroxetine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Celexa (citalopram)
Avoid drinking alcohol; avoid use of nicotine or tobacco products.
Antipsychotics
Clozaril (clozapine)

Abilify (aripiprazole)
Seroquel (quetiapine)

Geodon (ziprasidone)
Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine.

Avoid drinking alcohol and grapefruit juice.


Take with a meal for best absorption.
Anti-seizure 
Dilantin (phenytoin)



Carbatrol, Tegretol (carbamazepine)


Depakote (divalproex)
Lamictal (lamotrigine)
Lyrica (pregabalin)
Topamax (topiramate)
Zarontin (ethosuximide)
Take on an empty stomach at the same time every day. Avoid calcium or antacids within 2 hours of taking medicine.

Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice.

Avoid drinking alcohol.
Cholesterol
Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Mevacor (lovastatin)
Zocor (simvastatin)
Avoid eating large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (greater than 1 quart per day). Do not eat oat bran within 2–4 hours of taking medicine. Best if taken in the evening.
Diabetes Drugs
Glucophage (metformin)
DiaBeta (glyburide)
Glucotrol (glipizide)
Amaryl (glimepiride)
Avoid drinking alcohol. If diabetes is well controlled, limit alcohol to 1–2 drinks per day consumed with a meal. 
Gastrointestinal Drugs
Reglan (metoclopramide)


Nexium (esomeprazole)
Prilosec (omeprazole)
Protonix (pantoprazole)

Tagamet (cimetidine)

Avoid drinking or limit alcohol. Take 30 minutes before meals. 

Take at least 1 hour before meals.



Avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
Gout Medications*

*If you have gout, avoid large amounts of purine-rich foods (anchovies, beef stock gravies, sardines, shellfish, asparagus, lentils and red meat—especially pork). Check with your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list.
Colcrys (colchicine)


Zyloprim (allopurinol)
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice.

Take after meals.

High Blood Pressure
ACE Inhibitors
Monopril (fosinopril)
Prinvil, Zestril (lisinopril)
Vasotec (enalapril)



Calcium Channel Blockers
Calan (verapamil)
Cardizem (diltiazem)
Plendil (felodipine)
Procardia (nifedipine)

Beta Blockers
Tenormin (atenolol)



Lopressor (metoprolol tartrate)



Coreg (carvedilol)


Diuretics
Aldactone (spironolactone)
Dyrenium (triamterene)
Midamor (amiloride)

Avoid potassium-based salt substitutes and eating large amounts of foods high in potassium (almonds, bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, oranges/orange juice, potatoes with skin, tomato juice, spinach). 


Avoid drinking Seville (sour) orange juice, eating grapefruit, and drinking grapefruit juice.

Limit caffeine when taking Calan.


Avoid drinking orange juice. Do not take calcium products within 2 hours of taking medicine. 

Take with or immediately after meals. Do not take calcium products within 2 hours of taking medicine.

Take with meals to help reduce side effects.


Avoid potassium-based salt substitutes and eating large amounts of foods high in potassium (bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, potatoes with skin, tomato juice, spinach).
Immunosuppressant Drugs
Neoral, Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
Prograf (tacrolimus)
Rapamune (sirolimus) 
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice. Avoid potassium-based salt substitutes and eating large amounts of food high in potassium (almonds, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, oranges/orange juice, potatoes with skin, spinach).
MAO Inhibitors 
Eldepryl, Zelapar, Emsam (selegiline)
Marplan (isocarboxazid)
Nardil (phenelzine)
Parnate (tranylcypromine)
Avoid foods high in tyramine (aged cheese, avocado, banana, bologna, pepperoni, salami, pickled herring, liver, raisins, yeast extracts, red wine, sour cream). Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol and caffeine (chocolate, coffee, tea).
Osteoporosis
Bisphosphonates
Fosamax (alendronate)
Boniva (ibandronate)
Atelvia, Actonel (risedronate)
Take on an empty stomach with 8 oz. of water in the morning before breakfast. Do not take any other drugs, vitamins or food within 30 minutes (60 minutes for ibandronate) of taking medicine. Remain upright, not reclining or lying down, for 1 hour after taking.
Thyroid Hormones
Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid, Tirosint (levothyroxine)
Take on an empty stomach 30–60 minutes before breakfast with 8 oz. of water. Avoid eating walnuts, soybean flour, dietary fiber, and calcium products within 4 hours of taking medicine.
Drug Class
Analgesics (pain relievers) 

RX Medicine
Percocet (acetaminophen/oxycodone)
Tylenol #3 (acetaminophen/codeine)
Norco, Vicodin (acetaminophen/ hydrocodone)
Tips
Avoid drinking alcohol. Take with food to reduce upset stomach. Avoid over-the-counter Tylenol (acetaminophen)-containing products. It’s unsafe to take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
Drug Class
Anti-arrhythmics (irregular heart beat)

RX Medicine
Cordarone, Pacerone (amiodarone)
Tips
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice. May take with or without food, but take the same time each day.
Drug Class
Antibiotics

RX Medicine
Ampicillin 
Penicillin
Tips
Take on an empty stomach for best absorption.

RX Medicine
Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
Doxycycline
Tetracycline
Levaquin (levofloxacin)
Tips
To improve absorption, avoid antacids, iron-containing foods and calcium-rich dairy products.

RX Medicine
Flagyl (metronidazole)
Tindamax (tinidazole)
Tips
Avoid alcohol while taking and for 3 days after finishing the medication. Take with food to 
prevent upset stomach; take probiotics (yogurt or supplements) to prevent diarrhea.

RX Medicine
Griseofulvin
Tips
Take with fatty food (ice cream, whole milk or cheese) for better absorption.
Drug Class
Anti-coagulants (blood thinners) 

RX Medicine
Coumadin, Jantoven (warfarin)
Tips
Avoid sudden increase or decrease in foods rich in vitamin K (green leafy vegetables, avocados, soybeans, green tea, bacon, butter, cheese) and multivitamins with vitamin K. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list. Limit alcohol and cranberry juice.
Drug Class
Antidepressants

RX Medicine
Paxil (paroxetine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Celexa (citalopram)
Tips
Avoid drinking alcohol; avoid use of nicotine or tobacco products.
Drug Class
Antipsychotics

RX Medicine
Clozaril (clozapine)
Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine.
RX Medicine
Abilify (aripiprazole)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Tips
Avoid drinking alcohol and grapefruit juice.
Drug Class
Anti-seizure

RX Medicine
Dilantin (phenytoin)
Tips
Take on an empty stomach at the same time every day. Avoid calcium or antacids within 2 hours of taking medicine.

RX Medicine
Carbatrol, Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Tips
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice.

RX Medicine
Depakote (divalproex)
Lamictal (lamotrigine)
Lyrica (pregabalin)
Topamax (topiramate)
Zarontin (ethosuximide
Tips
Avoid drinking alcohol.
Drug Class
Cholesterol

RX Medicine
Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Mevacor (lovastatin)
Zocor (simvastatin)
Tips
Avoid eating large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (greater than 1 quart per day). Do not eat oat bran within 2–4 hours of taking medicine. Best if taken in the evening.
Drug Class
Diabetes Drugs

RX Medicine
Glucophage (metformin)
DiaBeta (glyburide)
Glucotrol (glipizide)
Amaryl (glimepiride)
Tips
Avoid drinking alcohol. If diabetes is well controlled, limit alcohol to 1–2 drinks per day consumed with a meal. 
Drug Class
Gastrointestinal Drugs

RX Medicine
Reglan (metoclopramide)
Tips
Avoid drinking or limit alcohol. Take 30 minutes before meals. 

RX Medicine
Nexium (esomeprazole)
Prilosec (omeprazole)
Protonix (pantoprazole)
Tips
Take at least 1 hour before meals.

RX Medicine
Tagamet (cimetidine)
Tips
Avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
Drug Class
Gout Medications*
*If you have gout, avoid large amounts of purine-rich foods (anchovies, beef stock gravies, sardines, shellfish, asparagus, lentils and red meat—especially pork). Check with your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list.

RX Medicine
Colcrys (colchicine)
Tips
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice.

RX Medicine
Zyloprim (allopurinol)
Tips
Take after meals.
Drug Class
High Blood Pressure

RX Medicine
ACE Inhibitors
Monopril (fosinopril)
Prinvil, Zestril (lisinopril)
Vasotec (enalapril)
Tips
Avoid potassium-based salt substitutes and eating large amounts of foods high in potassium (almonds, bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, oranges/orange juice, potatoes with skin, tomato juice, spinach). 

RX Medicine
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calan (verapamil)
Cardizem (diltiazem)
Plendil (felodipine)
Procardia (nifedipine)
Tips
Avoid drinking Seville (sour) orange juice, eating grapefruit, and drinking grapefruit juice. Limit caffeine when taking Calan.

RX Medicine
Beta Blockers
Tenormin (atenolol)
Tips
Avoid drinking orange juice. Do not take calcium products within 2 hours of taking medicine. 

Rx Medicine
Lopressor (metoprolol tartrate)
Tips
Take with or immediately after meals. Do not take calcium products within 2 hours of taking medicine.

RX Medicine
Diuretics
Aldactone (spironolactone)
Dyrenium (triamterene)
Midamor (amiloride)
Tips
Avoid potassium-based salt substitutes and eating large amounts of foods high in potassium (bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, potatoes with skin, tomato juice, spinach).
Drug Class
Immunosuppressant Drugs

RX Medicine
Neoral, Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
Prograf (tacrolimus)
Rapamune (sirolimus) 
Tips
Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice. Avoid potassium-based salt substitutes and eating large amounts of food high in potassium (almonds, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, oranges/orange juice, potatoes with skin, spinach).
Drug Class
MAO Inhibitors 

RX Medicine
Eldepryl, Zelapar, Emsam (selegiline)
Marplan (isocarboxazid)
Nardil (phenelzine)
Parnate (tranylcypromine)
Tips
Avoid foods high in tyramine (aged cheese, avocado, banana, bologna, pepperoni, salami, pickled herring, liver, raisins, yeast extracts, red wine, sour cream). Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol and caffeine (chocolate, coffee, tea).
Drug Class
Osteoporosis

RX Medicine
Bisphosphonates
Fosamax (alendronate)
Boniva (ibandronate)
Atelvia, Actonel (risedronate)
Tips
Take on an empty stomach with 8 oz. of water in the morning before breakfast. Do not take any other drugs, vitamins or food within 30 minutes (60 minutes for ibandronate) of taking medicine. Remain upright, not reclining or lying down, for 1 hour after taking.
Drug Class
Thyroid Hormones

RX Medicine
Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid, Tirosint (levothyroxine)
Tips
Take on an empty stomach 30–60 minutes before breakfast with 8 oz. of water. Avoid eating walnuts, soybean flour, dietary fiber, and calcium products within 4 hours of taking medicine.
Share by: