Avoid

Food-
Drug
Interactions
A Guide from the
National Consumers League and
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
 What you eat and drink can affect the
way your medicines work. Use this
guide to alert you to possible “food-drug
interactions” and to help you learn what
you can do to prevent them.
In this guide, a food-drug interaction is a
change in how a medicine works caused
by food, caffeine, or alcohol.

A food-drug interaction can:

▪ prevent a medicine from working the
way it should
▪ cause a side effect from a medicine to
get worse or better
▪ cause a new side effect
A medicine can also change the way your
body uses a food. Any of these changes
can be harmful.
This guide covers interactions between
some common prescription and over-the-
counter medicines and food, caffeine, and
alcohol. These interactions come from
medicine labels that FDA has approved.
This guide uses the generic names of
medicines, never brand names.

What else can affect how

my medicines work?
Your age, weight, and sex; medical
conditions; the dose of the medicine; other
medicines; and vitamins, herbals, and
other dietary supplements can affect how
your medicines work. Every time you use
a medicine, carefully follow the information
on the label and directions from your
doctor or pharmacist.
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Does it matter if I take a
medicine on a full or empty
stomach?
Yes, with some medicines. Some
medicines can work faster, slower, better,
or worse when you take them on a full or
empty stomach. On the other hand, some
medicines will upset your stomach, and
if there is food in your stomach, that can
help reduce the upset. If you don’t see
directions on your medicine labels, ask
your doctor or pharmacist if it is best to
take your medicines on an empty stomach
(one hour before eating, or two hours
after eating),with food, or after a meal (full
stomach).

Does it matter if I take my

medicine with alcohol?
Yes, the way your medicine works can
change when:
▪ you swallow your medicine with
alcohol
▪ you drink alcohol after you’ve taken
your medicine
▪ you take your medicine after you’ve
had alcohol to drink
Alcohol can also add to the side effects
caused by medicines. You should talk to
your doctor about any alcohol you use or
plan to use.

2
How do I know if caffeine is
in my food or drinks?
Check the labels on your foods and drinks
to see if they have caffeine. Some foods
and drinks with caffeine are coffee, cola
drinks, teas, chocolate, some high-energy
drinks, and other soft drinks. For more
about caffeine go to:
www.fda.gov/downloads/UCM200805.pdf

Remember!
This guide should never take the
place of the advice from your doctor,
pharmacist, or other health care
professionals. Always ask them if there
are any problems you could have when
you use your medicines with other
medicines; with vitamins, herbals and
other dietary supplements; or with food,
caffeine, or alcohol.

What isn’t in this guide?

This guide won’t include every medicine
and every type of medicine that’s used to
treat a medical condition. And just because
a medicine is listed here, doesn’t mean you
should or shouldn’t use it.
This guide only covers food-drug
interactions with medicines you should
swallow. It doesn’t cover, for example,
medicines that you put on the skin, inject
through the skin, drop in your eyes and
ears, or spray into your mouth.
This guide also doesn’t cover drug-drug
interactions, which are changes in the
way your medicines work caused by other
medicines. Prescription medicines can
interact with each other or with over-the-
counter medicines, and over-the-counter
medicines can interact with each other.
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 This guide usually doesn’t cover
interactions between medicines and
vitamins, herbals, and other dietary
supplements.
Find out what other interactions and side
effects you could have with the medicines
you use so you can try to avoid or prevent
them. If you have any questions, talk to
your doctor or pharmacist. To find out more
about how to use your medicines safely,
visit the Web sites listed on the back panel
of this guide.

How do I use this guide?

This guide arranges information by:

Medical conditions
Types of medicines used to
treat the medical condition
Examples of active ingredients in
medicines of this type
Interactions are listed by
Food, Caffeine, and Alcohol.

If you see…
▪ A medical condition
you have
▪ One of the types of
medicines you use, or
▪ One of your medicines used as
an example here,
find out if food, caffeine, or alcohol might
change the way your medicine works.

4
Allergies
Antihistamines
Antihistamines treat or relieve
symptoms of colds and allergies,
such as sneezing, runny nose, stuffy
nose, and itchy eyes. They block the
histamine your body releases when
a substance (allergen) causes the
symptoms of an allergic reaction. Some
antihistamines you can buy over-the-
counter and some you can buy only
with a prescription from your doctor
or other health care professional
who can write a prescription. Some
antihistamines can cause drowsiness.

Examples
b r o m p h e n i r a mine
cetirizine
c h l o r p h e n i r a mine
clemastine
desloratadine
d ip h e n h y d r a mine
fexofenadine
l ev o c e t i r i z i n e
triprolidine

Interactions

Alcohol: Avoid alcohol because it

can add to any drowsiness caused
by these medicines.

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Arthritis, Pain, and Fever
Analgesics/Antipyretics (Pain
relievers/Fever reducers)
Analgesics/antipyretics relieve mild to
moderate pain and lower fever.

Example
a c e t a m i n o p h en
Acetaminophen relieves mild to
moderate pain from headaches,
muscle aches, toothaches, backaches,
menstrual cramps, the common cold,
pain of arthritis, and lowers fever.

Interactions

Alcohol: If you drink three or

more alcoholic drinks every day,
ask your doctor if you should use
medicines with acetaminophen or
other pain reliever/fever reducers.
Acetaminophen can cause liver
damage. The chance for severe liver
damage is higher if you drink three or
more alcoholic drinks every day.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory
Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs relieve pain, fever, and
inflammation. Some NSAIDs you can
buy over-the-counter and some you
can buy only with a prescription. The
over-the-counter NSAIDs give short
term relief from minor aches and
pains from headaches, muscle aches,
toothaches, backaches, menstrual
cramps, and minor aches and pain of

6
 arthritis. NSAIDs may be prescribed
for conditions such as osteoarthritis
(arthritis caused by the breakdown of
the lining of the joints). NSAIDS can
cause stomach bleeding.

Examples
aspirin
celecoxib
d ic l o f e n a c
i bu p r o f e n
ketoprofen
naproxen

Interactions

Food: Take these medicines with

food or milk if they upset your
stomach.
Alcohol: If you drink three or more
alcoholic drinks every day, ask your
doctor if you should use medicines
with NSAIDs or other pain relievers/
fever reducers. NSAIDs can cause
stomach bleeding and the chance
is higher if you drink three or more
alcoholic drinks every day.
Narcotic Analgesics
Narcotic analgesics treat moderate
to severe pain. Codeine can also
help you cough less. Some of these
medicines are mixed with other
medicines that aren’t narcotics, such
as acetaminophen, aspirin, or cough
syrups. You can only buy narcotic
analgesics with a prescription. Follow
your doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice
carefully because these medicines can
be habit forming and can cause serious
side effects if not used correctly.

7
 Examples
c o d e i n e + a c etaminophen
h y d r o c o d o n e + acetaminophen
meperidine
morphine
o x y c o d o n e + acetaminophen

Interactions

Alcohol: Don’t drink alcohol while

using narcotics. Alcohol can increase
the chance of dangerous side
effects, coma, or death.

Asthma
Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators treat and prevent
breathing problems from bronchial
asthma, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD). These
medicines relax and open the air
passages to the lungs to relieve
wheezing, shortness of breath, troubled
breathing, and chest tightness.
Take these medicines only as directed.
If your symptoms get worse or you
need to take the medicine more often
than usual, you should talk to your
doctor right away.

Examples
a lb u t e r o l
theophylline

Interactions

Food: Food can have different

effects on different forms of

8
 theophylline (some forms are
regular release, sustained release,
and sprinkles). Check with your
pharmacist to be sure you know
which form of the medicine you use
and if food can affect your medicine.
Follow directions for sprinkle forms
of the medicine. You can swallow
sprinkle capsules whole or open
them and sprinkle them on soft
foods, such as applesauce or
pudding. Swallow the mixture without
chewing, as soon as it is mixed.
Follow with a full glass of cool water
or juice.
Caffeine: Using bronchodilators
with foods and drinks that have
caffeine can increase the chance
of side effects, such as excitability,
nervousness, and rapid heart beat.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol if you’re
using theophylline medicines
because alcohol can increase the
chance of side effects, such as
nausea, vomiting, headache, and
irritability.

Cardiovascular Disorders
These medicines prevent or treat
disorders of the cardiovascular system,
such as high blood pressure, angina
(chest pain), irregular heart beat,
heart failure, blood clots, and high
cholesterol. Some types of medicines
can treat many conditions. For
example, beta blockers can treat high
blood pressure, angina (chest pain),
and irregular heart beats.

9
 ACE Inhibitors (Angiotensin
Converting Enzyme Inhibitors)
ACE inhibitors alone or with other
medicines lower blood pressure or treat
heart failure. They relax blood vessels
so blood flows more smoothly and the
heart can pump blood better.

Examples
captopril
enalapril
lisinopril
moexipril
quinapril
ramipril

Interactions

Food: Take captopril and moexipril

one hour before meals.
ACE inhibitors can increase the
amount of potassium in your body.
Too much potassium can be harmful
and can cause an irregular heartbeat
and heart palpitations (rapid heart
beats). Avoid eating large amounts
of foods high in potassium, such
as bananas, oranges, green leafy
vegetables, and salt substitutes that
contain potassium. They can raise
the level of potassium even higher.
Tell your doctor if you are taking salt
substitutes with potassium, potassium
supplements, or diuretics (water pills)
because these can add to the amount
of potassium in your body.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers can be used alone or
with other medicines to treat high blood

10
 pressure. They are also used to prevent
angina (chest pain) and treat heart
attacks. They work by slowing the heart
rate and relaxing the blood vessels so
the heart doesn’t have to work as hard to
pump blood.
Don’t suddenly stop taking a beta blocker
without talking to your doctor. If you stop
a beta blocker suddenly, you can get
chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, or a
heart attack. Your doctor might tell you to
decrease your dose gradually.
Examples
carvedilol
metoprolol

Interactions

Food: Take carvedilol with food to

decrease the chance it will lower
your blood pressure too much. Take
carvedilol extended release capsules
in the morning with food; don’t crush,
chew, or divide the capsule. Take
metoprolol with a meal or right after a
meal.
Diuretics
Sometimes called “water pills,” diuretics
help remove water, sodium, and chloride
from the body. Diuretics reduce sodium
and the swelling and excess fluid caused
by some medical problems such as heart
or liver disease. Diuretics can also treat
high blood pressure.
Examples
bumetanide
furosemide
h y d r o c h l o r o t hiazide

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 metolazone
triamterene
t r i a m t e r e n e + hydrochlorothiazide

Interactions

Food: Take your diuretic with food if

it upsets your stomach.
Some diuretics cause loss of the
minerals potassium, calcium, and
magnesium from the body.
Other diuretics, like triamterene
(not with hydrochlorothiazide),
lower the kidneys’ ability to remove
potassium, which can cause high
levels of potassium in the blood
stream (hyperkalemia). Too much
potassium can be harmful and can
cause an irregular or rapid beating
of the heart. When you use diuretics
that can increase potassium in your
body, avoid eating large amounts
of foods high in potassium, such as
bananas, oranges, and green leafy
vegetables, and salt substitutes that
contain potassium. They can raise
the level of potassium even higher.
Tell your doctor if you are taking
salt substitutes with potassium or
potassium supplements because
they can add to the amount of
potassium in your body.
Glycosides
Glycosides treat heart failure and
abnormal heart rhythms. They help
control the heart rate and help the heart
work better.

Example
d ig o x i n

12
 Interactions

Food: Take digoxin one hour before

or two hours after eating food. Try
to take it at the same time(s) every
day and carefully follow the label
and directions from your doctor.
Foods high in fiber may decrease the
digoxin in your body, so take digoxin
at least two hours before or two
hours after eating foods high in fiber
(such as bran).
Avoid taking digoxin with senna
and St. John’s wort since they may
decrease the amount and action of
digoxin in your body.
Avoid taking digoxin with black
licorice (which contains the
glycyrrhizin used in some candies,
cakes and other sweets). Digoxin
with glycyrrhizin can cause irregular
heart beat and heart attack.
Lipid-Altering Agents (also
called Statins)
Statins lower cholesterol by lowering
the rate of production of LDL (low-
density lipoproteins, or sometimes
called “bad cholesterol”). Some of these
medicines also lower triglycerides.
Some statins can raise HDL-C (high-
density lipoproteins, or sometimes
called “good cholesterol”), and lower
the chance of heart attack, stroke, or
small strokes.

Examples
atorvastatin
fluvastatin
l ov a s t a t i n

13
 pravastatin
simvastatin
rosuvastatin

Interactions

Food: You can take most statins

on a full or empty stomach. Some
statins will work better if you
take them with an evening meal.
Don’t drink more than one quart
of grapefruit juice a day if you are
taking atorvastatin, lovastatin, or
simvastatin. Large amounts of
grapefruit juice can raise the levels
of those statins in your body and
increase the chance of side effects.
Some statins don’t interact with
grapefruit juice. Ask your doctor
or pharmacist if you have any
questions.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol because
it can increase the chance of liver
damage.
Vasodilators-Nitrates
Nitrates prevent or treat chest pain
(angina). They work by relaxing the
blood vessels to the heart, which
improves the blood and oxygen flow to
the heart.

Examples
i s o s o r b i d e d i nitrate or mononitrate
n it r o g l y c e r i n

Interactions

Food: You can take all forms of

nitrates on a full or empty stomach.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol. Alcohol may

14
 add to the blood vessel-relaxing effect
of nitrates and lead to a dangerously
low blood pressure.
Vitamin K Agonists/
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are also called “blood
thinners.” They lower the chance
of blood clots forming or growing
larger in your blood or blood vessels.
Anticoagulants are used to treat people
with certain types of irregular heartbeat,
people with prosthetic (replacement
or mechanical) heart valves, and
people who have had a heart attack.
Anticoagulants also treat blood clots that
have formed in the veins of the legs or
lungs.

Example
warfarin

Interactions

Food: You can take warfarin on a full

or empty stomach. Vitamin K
in food can make the medicine less
effective. Eat a normal balanced diet
with a steady amount of leafy green
vegetables, and talk to your doctor
before making changes in your diet.
Foods high in vitamin K
include broccoli, cabbage, collard
greens, spinach, kale, turnip
greens, and brussel sprouts.
Avoid cranberry juice or cranberry
products while using anticoagulants
because they can change the
effects of warfarin. Many dietary
supplements and vitamins can
interact with anticoagulants and can

15
 reduce the benefit or increase the
risk of warfarin. Avoid garlic, ginger,
glucosamine, ginseng, and ginkgo
because they can increase the
chance of bleeding.
Alcohol: Tell your doctor and
pharmacist if you drink alcohol or
have problems with alcohol abuse.
Avoid alcohol because it can affect
your dose of warfarin.

Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease (GERD) and
Ulcers
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) work by
decreasing the amount of acid made
in the stomach. They treat conditions
when the stomach produces too much
acid. Some of these medicines you can
buy over-the-counter to treat frequent
heartburn, such as omeprazole and
lansoprazole. Some of these medicines
you can only buy with a prescription
to treat conditions such as ulcers,
gastroesophageal reflux disease, and
to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers
in people taking nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). (See
Arthritis, Pain and Fever-Nonsteroidal
Anti-inflammatory Drugs above.) Proton
pump inhibitors are also used along
with antibiotics to stop infections in the
stomach that cause ulcers.
Proton pump inhibitors come in different
forms (such as delayed-release tablets,
delayed-release disintegrating tablets,

16
 immediate release). Don’t change your
dose or stop using these without talking
to your doctor first.

Examples
d e x l a n s o p r a z ole
esomeprazole
l an s o p r a z o l e
omeprazole
pantoprazole
rabeprazole

Interactions

Food: You can take dexlansoprazole

and pantoprazole on a full or empty
stomach. Esomeprazole should be
taken at least one hour before a
meal. Lansoprazole and omeprazole
should be taken before eating. Ask
your doctor or pharmacist how you
should take rabeprazole.
Tell your doctor if you cannot
swallow delayed-release medicines
whole because you shouldn’t split,
crush, or chew them. Some of these
medicines can be mixed with food
but you must carefully follow the
label and directions from your doctor
or pharmacist.

17
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the
thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough
thyroid hormone. Without this hormone,
the body cannot function properly, so
there is poor growth, slow speech, lack
of energy, weight gain, hair loss, dry
thick skin, and increased sensitivity to
cold.
Thyroid Medicines
Thyroid medicines control
hypothyroidism but they don’t cure
it. They reverse the symptoms of
hypothyroidism. Thyroid medicine
is also used to treat congenital
hypothyroidism (cretinism),
autoimmune hypothyroidism, other
causes of hypothyroidism (such as after
thyroid surgery), and goiter (enlarged
thyroid gland). It may take several
weeks before you notice a change in
your symptoms. Don’t stop taking the
medicine without talking to your doctor.
Example
l ev o t h y r o x i n e

Interactions

Foods: Tell your doctor if you

are allergic to any foods. Take
levothyroxine once a day in the
morning on an empty stomach,
at least one-half hour to one hour
before eating any food. Tell your
doctor if you eat soybean flour
(also found in soybean infant
formula), cotton seed meal, walnuts,

18
 and dietary fiber; the dose of the
medicine may need to be changed.

Infections
Be sure to finish all of your medicine
for an infection, even if you are feeling
better. All of the medicine is needed to
kill the cause of infection. If you stop
the medicine early, the infection may
come back; the next time, the medicine
may not work for the infection. Ask your
doctor if you should drink more fluids
than usual when you take medicine for
an infection.
Antibacterials
Medicines known as antibiotics
or antibacterials are used to treat
infections caused by bacteria. None of
these medicines will work for infections
that are caused by viruses (such as
colds and flu).
Quinolone Antibacterials
Examples
ciprofloxacin
l ev o f l o x a c i n
moxifloxacin

Interactions

Food: You can take ciprofloxacin

and moxifloxacin on a full or empty
stomach. Take levofloxacin tablets
on a full or empty stomach. Take
levofloxacin oral solution one hour
before eating or two hours after
eating.

19
 Don’t take ciprofloxacin with dairy
products (like milk and yogurt) or
calcium-fortified juices alone, but you
can take ciprofloxacin with a meal that
has these products in it.
Caffeine: Tell your doctor if you take
foods or drinks with caffeine when you
take ciprofloxacin, because caffeine
may build up in your body.
Tetracycline Antibacterials
Examples
doxycycline
minocycline
tetracycline

Interactions

Food: Take these medicines one hour

before a meal or two hours after a
meal, with a full glass of water.
You can take tetracycline with food
if it upsets your stomach, but avoid
dairy products (such as milk, cheese,
yogurt, ice cream) one hour before
or two hours after. You can take
minocycline and some forms of
doxycycline with milk if the medicine
upsets your stomach.
Oxazolidinone Antibacterials
Example
linezolid

Interactions

Food: Avoid large amounts of foods

and drinks high in tyramine while using
linezolid. High levels of tyramine can
cause a sudden, dangerous increase
in your blood pressure. Follow your
doctor’s directions very carefully.
20
 Foods with Tyramine
Foods that are spoiled or not
refrigerated, handled, or stored
properly, and aged, pickled,
fermented, or smoked foods may
contain tyramine. Some of these are:
• cheeses, especially strong, aged,
or processed cheese, such as
American processed, cheddar,
colby, blue, brie, mozzarella, and
parmesan cheese; yogurt; sour
cream (you can eat cream and
cottage cheese)
• beef or chicken liver, dry sausage
(including Genoa salami, hard
salami, pepperoni, and Lebanon
bologna), caviar, dried or pickled
herring, anchovies, meat extracts,
meat tenderizers and meats
prepared with tenderizers
• avocados, bananas, canned
figs, dried fruits (raisins, prunes),
raspberries, overripe fruit,
sauerkraut, soy beans and soy
sauce, yeast extract (including
brewer’s yeast in large quantities)
• broad beans (fava)
• excessive amounts of chocolate
Caffeine: Many foods and drinks
with caffeine also contain tyramine.
Ask your doctor if you should avoid
or limit caffeine.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol while using
linezolid. Many alcoholic drinks
contain tyramine, including tap
beer, red wine, sherry, and liqueurs.
Tyramine can also be in alcohol-free
and reduced alcohol beer.

21
 Metronidazole Antibacterials
Example
metronidazole

Interactions

Alcohol: Don’t drink alcohol while

taking metronidazole and for at
least one full day after finishing
the medicine; together alcohol and
metronidazole can cause nausea,
stomach cramps, vomiting, flushing,
and headaches.
Antifungals
Antifungals are medicines that treat or
prevent fungal infections. Antifungals
work by slowing or stopping the growth
of fungi that cause infection.
Examples
fluconazole
itraconazole
posaconazole
voriconazole
griseofulvin
terbinafine

Interactions

Food: Itraconazole capsules will

work better if you take it during or
right after a full meal. Itraconazole
solution should be taken on an
empty stomach. Posaconazole
will work better if you take it with a
meal, within 20 minutes of eating a
full meal, or with a liquid nutritional
supplement. Don’t mix voriconazole
suspension with any other
medicines, water, or any other liquid.

22
 Griseofulvin works better when taken
with fatty food.
You can take the rest of the
antifungals listed here on a full or
empty stomach.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol while you
are taking griseofulvin because
griseofulvin can make the side
effects of alcohol worse. For
example, together they can cause
the heart to beat faster and can
cause flushing.
Antimycobacterials
Antimycobacterials treat infections
caused by mycobacteria, a type of
bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB),
and other kinds of infections.

Examples
ethambutol
isoniazid
rifampin
r i f a m p i n + i s oniazid
r i f a m p i n + i s oniazid + pyrazinamide

Interactions

Food: Ethambutol can be taken

with or without food. Take the rest of
these medicines one hour before a
meal or two hours after a meal, with
a full glass of water.
Avoid foods and drinks with tyramine
and foods with histamine if you take
isoniazid alone or combined with
other antimycobacterials. High levels
of tyramine can cause a sudden,
dangerous increase in your blood
pressure. Foods with histamine

23
 can cause headache, sweating,
palpitations (rapid heart beats),
flushing, and hypotension (low blood
pressure). Follow your doctor’s
directions very carefully.
Foods that contain tyramine are
listed on page 21, under “Foods
with Tyramine.”
Foods with histamine include
skipjack, tuna, and other tropical fish.
Caffeine: Many foods and drinks
with caffeine also contain tyramine.
Ask your doctor if you should avoid
or limit caffeine.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol. Many
alcoholic drinks contain tyramine,
including tap beer, red wine, sherry,
and liqueurs. Tyramine can also be
in alcohol-free and reduced alcohol
beer. If you drink alcohol every
day while using isoniazid you may
have an increased risk of isoniazid
hepatitis.
Antiprotozoals
Antiprotozoals treat infections caused
by certain protozoa (parasites that
can live in your body and can cause
diarrhea).

Examples
metronidazole
tinidazole

24
 Interactions

Alcohol: Together alcohol and

these medicines can cause nausea,
stomach cramps, vomiting, flushing,
and headaches. Avoid drinking
alcohol while taking metronidazole
and for at least one full day after
finishing the medicine. Avoid drinking
alcohol while taking tinidazole and
for three days after finishing the
medicine.

Psychiatric Disorders
Depression, bipolar disorder, general
anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic
disorder, and schizophrenia are a
few examples of common psychiatric
(mental) disorders. Use the amount of
medicine that your doctor tells you to
use, even if you are feeling better. In
some cases it can take several weeks
before you see your symptoms get
better. Don’t stop these medicines until
you talk to your doctor. You may need
to stop your medicine gradually to avoid
getting side effects. Some of these
medicines can affect your thinking,
judgment, or physical skills. Some may
cause drowsiness and can affect how
alert you are and how you respond.
Don’t do activities like operating
machinery or driving a car, until you
know how your medicine affects you.

25
 Anti-Anxiety and
Panic Disorder Medicines
Examples
a lp r a z o l a m
clonazepam
d ia z e p a m
l or a z e p a m

Interactions

Alcohol: Avoid alcohol. Alcohol

can add to the side effects caused
by these medicines, such as
drowsiness.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants treat depression,
general anxiety disorder, social phobia,
obsessive-compulsive disorder,
some eating disorders, and panic
attacks. The medicines below work by
increasing the amount of serotonin,
a natural substance in the brain that
helps maintain mental balance.
Never stop an antidepressant medicine
without first talking to a doctor. You may
need to stop your medicine gradually to
avoid getting side effects.

Examples
citalopram
escitalopram
fluoxetine
paroxetine
sertraline

Interactions

Food: You can take these medicines

on a full or empty stomach. Swallow

26
 paroxetine whole; don’t chew or
crush it.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol. Alcohol
can add to the side effects caused
by these medicines, such as
drowsiness.
Antidepressants-Monoamine
Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs treat depression in people
who haven’t been helped by other
medicines. They work by increasing the
amounts of certain natural substances
that are needed for mental balance.

Examples
phenelzine
t r a n y l c y p r o m ine

Interactions

Food: Avoid foods and drinks that

contain tyramine when you use
MAOIs. High levels of tyramine can
cause a sudden, dangerous increase
in your blood pressure. Follow your
doctor’s directions very carefully.
Foods that contain tyramine are listed
on page 21, under “Foods with
Tyramine.”
Caffeine: Many foods and drinks with
caffeine also contain tyramine. Ask
your doctor if you should avoid or limit
caffeine.

27
 Alcohol: Don’t drink alcohol while
using these medicines. Many alcoholic
drinks contain tyramine, including tap
beer, red wine, sherry, and liqueurs.
Tyramine also can be in alcohol-free
and reduced alcohol beer. Alcohol also
can add to the side effects caused by
these medicines.
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics treat the symptoms
of schizophrenia and acute manic or
mixed episodes from bipolar disorder.
People with schizophrenia may believe
things that are not real (delusions) or
see, hear, feel, or smell things that are
not real (hallucinations). They can also
have disturbed or unusual thinking and
strong or inappropriate emotions. These
medicines work by changing the activity
of certain natural substances in the
brain.

Examples
aripiprazole
clozapine
o la n z a p i n e
quetiapine
risperidone
ziprasidone

Interactions

Food: Take ziprasidone capsules

with food.You can take the rest of
these medicines on a full or empty
stomach.
Caffeine: Avoid caffeine when using
clozapine because caffeine can
increase the amount of medicine in
your blood and cause side effects.

28
 Alcohol: Avoid alcohol. Alcohol
can add to the side effects caused
by these medicines, such as
drowsiness.
Sedatives and Hypnotics (Sleep
Medicines)
Sedative and hypnotic medicines treat
people who have problems falling
asleep or staying asleep. They work
by slowing activity in the brain to allow
sleep. Some of these medicines you
can buy over-the-counter and some you
can only buy with a prescription.
Tell your doctor if you have ever abused
or have been dependent on alcohol,
prescription medicines, or street drugs
before starting any sleep medicine.
You could have a greater chance of
becoming addicted to sleep medicines.

Examples
eszopiclone
zolpidem

Interactions

Food: To get to sleep faster, don’t

take these medicines with a meal or
right after a meal.
Alcohol: Don’t drink alcohol while
using these medicines. Alcohol can
add to the side effects caused by
these medicines.
Bipolar Disorder Medicines
People with bipolar disorder experience
mania (abnormally excited mood,
racing thoughts, more talkative than
usual, and decreased need for sleep)

29
 and depression at different times during
their lives. Bipolar disorder medicines
help people who have mood swings by
helping to balance their moods.

Examples
c a r b a m a z e p i ne
d iv a l p r o e x s o dium
l am o t r i g i n e
l i th i u m

Interactions

Food: Take divalproex with food

if it upsets your stomach. Take
lithium immediately after meal or
with food or milk to avoid stomach
upset. Lithium can cause you to lose
sodium, so maintain a normal diet,
including salt; drink plenty of fluids
(eight to 12 glasses a day) while on
the medicine.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol. Alcohol
can add to the side effects caused
by these medicines, such as
drowsiness.

Osteoporosis
Bisphosphonates (bone calcium
phosphorus metabolism)
Bisphosphonates prevent and treat
osteoporosis, a condition in which the
bones become thin and weak and
break easily. They work by preventing
bone breakdown and increasing bone
thickness.

30
 Examples
a le n d r o n a t e sodium
a le n d r o n a t e sodium +
c h o l e c a l c i f e r ol
i ba n d r o n a t e sodium
r i s e d r o n a t e s odium
r i s e d r o n a t e s odium + calcium
carbonate
Food: These medicines work only
when you take them on an empty
stomach. Take the medicine first
thing in the morning with a full glass
(six to eight ounces) of plain water
while you are sitting or standing up.
Don’t take with mineral water. Don’t
take antacids or any other medicine,
food, drink, calcium, or any vitamins
or other dietary supplements for
at least 30 minutes after taking
alendronate or risedronate, and
for at least 60 minutes after taking
ibandronate. Don’t lie down for
at least 30 minutes after taking
alendronate or risedronate and
for at least 60 minutes after taking
ibandronate. Don’t lie down until you
eat your first food of the day.

31
More About Using
Medicines Safely
Read the label before you use any
medicine.

Over-the-counter Medicines
Over-the-counter medicine has a label
called Drug Facts on the medicine
container or packaging. The label is
there to help you choose the right
medicine for you and your problem and
use the medicine safely. Some over-
the-counter medicines also come with
a consumer information leaflet which
gives more information.

Prescription Medicines

Medication Guide
(also called Med Guide):

This is one kind of information written

for consumers about prescription
medicines. The pharmacist must give
you a Medication Guide each time
you fill your prescription when there
is one written for your medicine.
Medication Guides are made for
certain medicines that have serious
risks. The information tells about
the risks and how to avoid them.
Read the information carefully
before you use the medicine. If you
have any questions, ask a doctor or
pharmacist.
For more information on Medication
Guides, visit: www.fda.gov/drugs

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 Patient Package Insert
(also called “PPI” or patient
information):

This is another kind of information

written for consumers about
prescription medicines. Your
pharmacist might give this to you
with your medicine. It gives you
information about the medicine and
how to use it. The pharmacist must
give you a PPI with birth control pills
or any medicine with estrogen.

Resources
http://www.fda.gov/usemedicinesafely
Consumer education on how to choose
and use medicine, from the FDA.

http://www.medlineplus.gov
Health information for consumers, from
the government’s National Library of
Medicine (NLM).

http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
FDA-approved drug labeling written
for healthcare professionals, from the
government’s National Institutes of
Health (NIH); sometimes this labeling
will also have a “Patient Package Insert”
or PPI or a “Medication Guide,” written
for patients.

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/
scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm
Drugs@FDA website with FDA-
approved labeling written for healthcare
professionals; sometimes this labeling
will also have a “Patient Package Insert”
or PPI, or a “Medication Guide,” written
for patients. The site may have a “Drug

33
 Safety Communication,” or “Other
Important Information from FDA,” if
there has been new information about
the medicine that has not made it to the
label yet.

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/ucm079489.
htm
A personal medicine record can help
you keep track of your prescription
and over-the-counter medicines and
vitamins, herbals, and other dietary
supplements you use. If you keep a
written record, it can make it easy to
share this information with all your
healthcare professionals—at office,
clinic and hospital visits, and in
emergencies.

34
National Consumers League
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership
organization
Phone: 202-835-3323
Fax: 202-835-0747
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.nclnet.org

U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Phone: 1-888-INFO-FDA
Email questions: [email protected]
Web: www.fda.gov/drugs

For an online version of this guide, visit:

www.nclnet.org or www.fda.gov/drugs

Publication no. (FDA) CDER 10-1933