Any medication that is prescribed by a doctor to be dispensed by a local chemist is chosen because it is the most effective, proven and safe medication to take for a particular condition.
This choice will take into account the needs of the individual, such as age, preexisting health conditions, any medication they are already taking, allergies and intolerances, as well as any other factors that might make a medication not work as well as it needs to.
However, one variable that a doctor is not in as much control of but needs to bear in mind when prescribing certain medication is how diet can affect it.
This is most commonly seen with the blood pressure medication warfarin, which is highly affected by vitamin K levels found in a lot of different foods, meaning that diets may need to be carefully constructed and kept consistent.
However, there are other foods that can interact with certain medications and here are some of the most common or notable examples.
Grapefruit
The most notable example of food and drink that interacts with prescription medication, grapefruit features enzyme-blocking compounds that can cause drug concentrations to reach dangerously high levels, making certain drugs up to 13 times more potent.
The same effect can be found in some other citrus fruits such as Seville oranges, but if you enjoy grapefruit or are eating it to enjoy its other health benefits, make sure you ask your doctor or pharmacist if it will have an effect on your medication.
Alcohol
Consuming alcohol should be kept to a minimum regardless, but one warning that will commonly be given by a doctor is if a particular medication interacts with alcohol.
There are far too many to count, but alcohol can often increase the sedative and depressant effects of certain medications, making people exceptionally drowsy.
If in doubt, avoid drinking alcohol when on a prescription medication, or consult your pharmacy first to see what is and is not okay to drink in moderation.
Dairy Products
For the most part, there is no issue with dairy and most prescription medications, but the most notable exception to this is in the case of certain fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which bind to the medicine and stop it from being absorbed properly.
Typically you should avoid dairy two hours before taking your medication and abstain for the next six hours to be completely safe and ensure that the antibiotic course can do the job it needs to.
Liquorice
For the most part, black liquorice is safe to eat and delicious, but one side effect it can have is that it can affect levels of potassium in the body.
This can be a big problem if you are taking medication for low potassium and some medications for blood pressure, as it can cause dangerous drops in the former and dangerous spikes in the latter.
This does not affect fans of Liquorice Allsorts, either. If you are an herbal tea drinker, a common ingredient in many blends is liquorice, which means that you could accidentally be drinking something that could cause your medications to stop working properly.