A Pharmacist, Emmanuel Tangang, has advised Nigerians against consumption of fruits during medication to avoid reduction in the potency of the drugs.

Tangang gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Kaduna.
According to him, many people do not know that some fruits interact badly with certain medications.
He said: “This means your meal can end up reducing the efficacy of your drugs, or worse still, could become a health nightmare.

“An example is banana; do not eat them if you take ACE inhibitors such as Captopril, Enalapril and Fosinopril, among others.

“ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and treat heart failure by opening up blood vessels; so, blood flows more efficiently.

“Bananas (as well as oranges, leafy greens and certain salt substitutes) are high in potassium.

“Too much potassium can cause an irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations. Avoid eating large amounts of foods high in potassium if you are on ACE inhibitors.”

The pharmacist said that taking milk while on medication could also reduce the potency of the drugs.
He said: “Don’t drink milk when you take some antibiotics including tetracycline, ciprofloxacin (quinolone antibiotics) and certain osteoporosis medication, such as alendronate (Fosamax).

“Milk has calcium which can interfere with the effects of some antibiotics; so, you should not take such antibiotics with foods high in calcium like milk, yoghurt or cheese.

“Supplements containing calcium should also be avoided for a few hours before and after taking these antibiotics.”

According to him, grapes juice can reduce the potency of some drugs used to burn fats (cholesterol) or treatment of hypertension.

He said: “There is a drug called artovastatin which is a fat burner, whose potency can be reduced if taken with the grape juice.

“Grapes can also reduce the potency of some drugs used for the treatment of hypertension such as Nifedipine and Amlodipine.

“Chemicals in grape fruits interfere with how your body metabolises certain drugs, which can result in more of the medicine ending up in your blood stream.
“It can increase the chance of side effects, if you are on the lipid-altering statins.”

The pharmacist said that cranberry juice could also reduce the potency of Warfarin drugs.
Tangang said: “Warfarin is a drug that stops the formation of clots of blood in the blood vessels, thereby enhancing the flow of blood in the vessels.
“Cranberry juice can reduce their potency to do this.”

According to him, lemon juice can also reduce the potency of malaria drugs when one is on treatment.
“Lemon juice contains sour-tasting juice like Vitamin C which, if taken at the same time with some drugs used in treating malaria such as Coartem and Amatem, can reduce their strength or potency.”

He said that taking apple could also reduce the strength of activity of drugs used to treat infections commonly grouped as anti-infectious drugs like the antibiotics.

He said: “It reduces the potency of some drugs used to treat some allergic reactions like itching of the body, small rashes on the body or other reactions.

“Drugs like piriton, phenergan are anti-allergic drugs.
“Apple can reduce the potency of some drugs used to stabilise some complications that can arise from transplanting of organs such as the kidneys.”

Source: https://theeagleonline.com.ng/why-you-must-avoid-consuming-fruits-during-medication-pharmacist/

I won't take such advice from an alledged pharmacist from Kaduna!

He's unqualified to make such claims.

Enter a modern Western hospital and its common to see a fruit bowl beside the patients bed.

Nice write-up

Yes. This writeup is so true in the truest sense. Due to personal experience, I discovered that taking bananas with ACT drugs tend to reduce its efficacy. Basically, when taking medication eat food high in fat and take lot of fluids especially water. Fruits is a no no until after the medication is completed.

Wow, but atimes during medication patients are adviced to take more of fruits and vegetables


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whats the point of dying healthy?

Wow! I Thanks for this information. I want to believe many people like me would have been making the mistake earlier.

Ftc

Ok.. but Atiku is still coming

Hmmn
Informative!

I only know of herbs and spices that affect potencybog drugs.....fruits and vegetables are food

What he's actually saying is that fruits counters the effect or distorts the mechanism of action of some drugs whereas others do the opposite.

This life sef.

Sunofgod:
I won't take such advice from an alledged pharmacist from Kaduna!

He's unqualified to make such claims.

Enter a modern Western hospital and its common to see a fruit bowl beside the patients bed.

take it or leave it.... He's 101 percent correct!!

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When the pharmacist in my area gives me antibiotics for Typhoid, she always tells me not to take milk, so I already know some of this. I didn't know about not eating Banana, but I understand that as it is very well explained. Bananas really can raise your heart beat if you take too much as they contain high level of Potassium. I'm speaking from experience. I didn't know that was what used to cause this issue, but now I know for sure.

Sunofgod:
I won't take such advice from an alledged pharmacist from Kaduna!

He's unqualified to make such claims.

Enter a modern Western hospital and its common to see a fruit bowl beside the patients bed.

I am sure you have never seen them take the fruits with their drugs.
He meant taking them together.

The pharmacist should have generalised it... Certain foods aren't meant to be taken with certain medications, it's not limited to fruits only. Certain drugs aren't meant to be taken together as well

For the milk part I can say it’s true. I hate drugs with passion. I rather take injections than drugs but this particular one demanded I take it orally. So I would use a glass of milk to washed the bitter drug down.

Time for checkup came and my doctor couldn’t detect any significant improvement. He asked me if I took the complete dosage cos he knows how much I hated drugs.

I replied with a half smile that yes I did, with a glass of milk.

He said no wonder!!! And put me on another round of antibiotics

He said I should use plain water only and never use milk, it interferes with some certain drugs .Gosh I hate drugs and the damn smell.

How am I supposed to remember all these anytime medications are prescribed for me?

It's a good medical advise in general terms because some foods/fruits can interfer with your medication. It's always good to ask your dr if your meds could be interfered with by your diets.

Drug - Drug Interaction

Food - Drug Interaction


But the Heading is wrong ...

Not all fruits affect drug efficacy some even increase the efficacy with synergic effects.

He should be specific so as not to mislead people who do not read.

LadyJasper:
How am I supposed to remember all these anytime medications are prescribed for me?

Ask your doctor/pharmacist and read the intruction on the drug packet.

Very good info.

Everyday comes with it's own medical theory.

wetin we go kom eat......haba

Pharmacists care for your health

it just goes to tell us that we re being served poisons called drugs.

most doctors I know dont even take panadol for head aches, they know the drugs they give are harmful to the body.

a classic example is children's vaccines.

I see