Foods can affect both prescription and OTC meds

Sometimes the foods you eat and the meds you take don’t mix.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says foods can negatively affect the way prescription or over-the-counter drugs work. The academy offers this advice on avoiding these so-called drug-food interactions:

  Always read the label on your medications; ask questions of the pharmacist if you don’t understand something or aren’t sure.
  Follow all label instructions and warnings on both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
  Take any medication with a full glass of water, unless your doctor has advised differently.
  Don’t stir a medication with food or break open a capsule, unless your doctor has told you to do so.
  Don’t take any medication at the same time as you take vitamins.
  Don’t mix a medication in a hot drink, and never take a medication with alcohol.