Does anything affect your medication?

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking medication for the first time. You need to see if there is anything you should stay away from. 1) GRAPEFRUIT Affects more than 50 drugs Makes some like Fexofendine(Allegra) for allergies less effective Makes others too strong Included is ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin(Lipitor) 2) MILK Makes it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics 3) LICORICE Contains Glycyrrlizin which can weaken the effect of some drugs That includes cyclosporine which is used to keep people who have had transplants from rejecting their new organs 4) CHOCOLATE Dark chocolate, especially It can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidemtartrate(Ambien) Some stimulant drugs, like Ritalin, power can be boosted. Your blood pressure can get dangerously high if you are taking an MAO inhibitor for depression. 5) IRON SUPPLEMENT Lowers effect of medicines for your thyroid like levothyroxine(synthroid) If you take a multivitamin and this medication check to see if the vitamin contain iron 6) ALCOHOL This makes certain less effective Some it makes even useless For example, some blood pressure and heart medications Others it makes stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects 7) COFFEE It can weaken antipsychotic drugs(lithium clozapine) It can boost the effects of others and side effects of some Included are aspirin, epinephrine(used to treat serious allergic reactions) and albuterol(taken by inhaler for breathing problems) Makes it harder for your body to taken in and use iron 8) ANTIHISTAMINES Some make high blood pressure medication less effective and raise your heart rate If you take blood pressure medication, talk to your doctor about other ways to mange your allergies. 9) ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUGS Can make birth control pills less effective Early research shows they may make other drugs strong and cause potentially serious side effects. 10) VITAMIN K Be aware of how much vitamin K you take in if you are taking the drug warfarin. It can make the blood thinner less effective and put you at a higher risk of a dangerous blood clot. 11) GINSENG Can lower effects of warfarin, also Make you more likely to have internal bleeding if you take the blood thinners heparin or aspirin As well as, nonsteroidal anti-flammatory drugs(ibuprofen naproxen) Taking MAO inhibitors with ginseng can cause headaches, sleep problems, hyperactivity and nervousness. 12) ST. JOHN'S WORT This herbal remedy is not a proven treatment for depression or any other health condition Can make your liver release enzymes that can weaken some medicines 13) GINKGO BILOBA No research to prove it helps health conditions It can weaken the drugs used to control seizures