Over the holiday season, many people consume foods and drinks that are outside their normal diet without realizing possible harmful effects due to interactions with their medications. There are more than two million adverse drug reactions each year resulting in 100,000 deaths.  There is a web site, PDRHealth.com, that anyone can use to check for interactions between drugs and food, alcohol, or tobacco products.  

We all tend to forget about or change our diet during the holidays, with an increase in fatty and rich foods and for some a more frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is also important to note that even if there is no immediate impact to a person’s health, certain foods and drinks could alter the effectiveness of their current medications. It is important to check with your doctor or pharmacist any time you add a new medication to your drug regimen.

Here are a few examples:

• Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac or other SSIR’s and Alcohol: Consuming alcohol when taking these medications could potentially lead to decreased drug effectiveness and an increase in side effects. In rare cases, the combination of alcohol and drugs produce a life-threatening reaction. Alcohol will have an effect on most medications that work in the central nervous system.  

• MAOIs and gravy: Food can decrease or increase the effects of a drug or cause seriously dangerous side effects. For example, eating tyramine rich foods (i.e., spinach, grapes, packaged gravy, aged cheese) while on a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (i.e., Parnate, tranycypromine sulfate) can increase blood pressure and cause a serious and potentially life-threatening hypertensive crisis.

• Pepto-Bismol: Anything from antacids to cold and flu medications can lead to adverse effects when combined with prescription drugs. These over-the-counter remedies can also decrease the effectiveness of prescription medication, thus affecting the health of an individual.

The key is moderation.  Don’t go over the top with the holiday food and drinks.  If you have any questions give your physician or pharmacist a quick call to discuss your concerns.

Drug – food interactions are not the only concern with holiday foods. There is also the concern of food borne illness due to food handling and preparation.  Following some simple common-sense rules in food preparation can reduce this concern.

• Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, and dry your hands with a paper towel following restroom use, before preparing foods, after handling raw meat and before eating.

• Wash and sanitize food-contact surfaces often. To sanitize utensils, immerse for 30 seconds in clean, hot water at 170 ºF, or immerse for at least one minute in a clean solution containing at least 50 parts per million of chlorine (one teaspoon of 5.25 percent household bleach per gallon of water).

• Wash fruits and vegetables before preparing.

• Thaw turkey properly. Thaw in a refrigerator with a temperature of 41 degrees F or less (allow three to four days for thawing); place under cool running water at a temperature of 75 degrees F or less; or thaw in a microwave and cook the turkey immediately.

• Prepare stuffing and turkey just before cooking. Using a cold stuffing may make it more difficult to reach the safe temperature of 165 degrees F. Stuff the turkey loosely and use three-quarters of a cup of stuffing per pound of turkey. Use a moist stuffing rather than a dry stuffing because heat destroys bacteria better in a moist environment.

• Cold foods should be kept at 41 degrees F or less.

• When transporting food, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

• Leftover turkey and stuffing should be stored separately in shallow dishes or platters. Rapidly reheat leftovers to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

• Proper hand washing is the most effective way to keep food and guests safe.

Taking these precautions will ensure that you and your family will have a happy holiday season

Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.) co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with her husband, Steve Mullenix (R.Ph). They can be reached at 631-1201.