Grapefruit can increase the amount of some statins in the blood and lead to greater side effects of the drug. An example of this is statins and grapefruit. An example of this would be a person with high blood pressure taking certain over-the-counter cold medications or nasal decongestants because decongestants narrow blood vessels, which can increase blood pressure.Ĭertain foods, when combined with certain drugs, can cause a drug’s effects to be either amplified or lessened.
Mixing a drug with alcohol may cause mild side effects such as drowsiness, but in some cases, such as with certain antibiotics, it can create a major digestive upset.ĭrug-condition interactions occur when a person’s medical condition combined with a certain drug causes a reaction. Many drugs include warnings against the consumption of alcohol while taking them. Combining more than one NSAID will not relieve pain faster, and in fact, could increase the risk of other side effects contributed to NSAIDs, such as stomach bleeding.ĭrug-alcohol interactions may occur when consuming alcohol while taking a certain drug. An example of a drug-drug interaction could be an individual taking two similar over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as Advil and Aleve. There are several categories of drug interactions that are important to be aware of, as drug interactions can in some cases be dangerous or even life-threatening.ĭrug interactions you should know about include:ĭrug-drug interactions can occur when taking two or more drugs, including taking multiple prescription drugs, mixing an illicit drug with a prescription drug, or mixing two or more illicit drugs. Types Of Drug Interactions You Should Know About Drug interactions can alter the medication’s effect on the body in various ways, such as causing the medication to be more potent, less potent, or causing unexpected side effects. Essentially, a drug interaction is a reaction that occurs when taking two medications or a medication combined with a supplement, food, other substances, or a medical condition. Whenever a person is taking a drug-and particularly when they are taking multiple drugs-they run the risk of a drug interaction. Many individuals are also taking more than one prescription drug on a daily basis. According to data released by the Health Policy Institute in 2021, roughly 66% of U.S.