More than 131 million adults in the United States take prescription drugs. However, taking these drugs with common drinks such as coffee or juice can be dangerous.
About 94% drink caffeinated drinks and about 23% enjoy a glass of juice, but if you’re on medication you should be careful about what you’re drinking.
The caffeine in a cup of coffee can interact with common medications.
Taking antidepressants that contain caffeine can cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure.
Caffeine can interact with blood thinners such as warfarin, causing more of the drug to remain in your body.
Antibiotics, cold medicines, and allergy medications can interfere with caffeine metabolism, which can make you feel irritable and anxious.
Caffeine can also reduce the absorption of thyroid medications by up to 50%.
Caffeinated beverages can also affect the effects of asthma medications, blood pressure medications, ADHD medications, antipsychotics, and osteoporosis medications.
Fruit juices may also interact with medicines.
Orange juice can reduce the body’s absorption of osteoporosis medications. Apple juice can make certain blood pressure medications less effective.
You should also not take grapefruit juice with certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, heart medications, hormone therapy, blood pressure medications, anti-anxiety medications, steroids, or medications that suppress the immune system.
Many medications interact with alcohol, including depression and anxiety medications, diabetes medications, cold medications, blood pressure medications, sleeping pills, and pain medications.
