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By Nancy Reid, HealthAtoZ writer
Many Americans take at least one prescription drug a day. Include vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter pills, and that can add up to a handful. We take pills for everything from high cholesterol to low sex drive. When medications interact with each other, they may not work as they're meant to.
Pills that clash: aspirin and ibuprofen
Doctors recommend that many people who are over 50 and at risk for a heart attack take aspirin every day. This keeps blood from clotting too quickly. When clots form, they can get lodged in the arteries of the heart, causing a heart attack. While some clotting is good (without it we'd bleed to death), aspirin helps keep the blood flowing smoothly.
Here's the snag. Many people who take aspirin also take ibuprofen for aches and pains. When you take this drug with aspirin, aspirin may lose some of its ability to prevent heart attacks.
Timing is key
If you take both aspirin and ibuprofen at the same time of day, there could be a problem. Talk to your doctor about how to space the timing on these medications to benefit from both.
Other over-the-counter mix-ups
Many over-the-counter drugs react with other medications. For example, taking a sedative and an antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl®) can slow your reactions, making driving dangerous.
Herbs not always safe
Some herbal remedies shouldn't be combined with other drugs, either. St. John's wort, a popular treatment for depression, may take the punch out of Viagra®. The herb may also render birth control pills useless.
Ginkgo, taken to improve memory, may interact with the blood thinner Coumadin®. Another herb, Kava kava, shouldn't be taken with muscle relaxants, sedatives or antidepressants. Some herbs interact with medicines used during surgery to put you to sleep.
Even fruit can cause problems. Some patients can't have grapefruit or grapefruit juice because of interactions with their drugs. These include antidepressants, statins and drugs for heart conditions, AIDS and seizures.
It's a good idea to give your doctor a complete list of all the medicines you take. If you see several doctors, make sure they all know what the others are prescribing. If possible, shop at one pharmacy so the pharmacist knows all the drugs you take.
Include your over-the counter meds, vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies on the list. Your doctor can't warn you about drug interactions without knowing what other medications you take.
Before you take any medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist:
- Can I take it with other medications?
- Should I avoid any foods, drinks or other products?
- What symptoms should I watch for?
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External Sources
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Food and Drug Administration
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National Council on Patient Information and Education
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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