BITS AND PIECES - MARCH 2021

SOME ANTIBIOTICS + DAIRY

Certain antibiotics shouldn’t be taken alongside milk, yogurt, or cheese. “Dairy products bind to the medicine and interfere with its absorption in the bloodstream”. This goes for fluoroquinolones like Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Levaquin (levofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), and certain tetracyclines. Avoid eating that bowl of yogurt or ice cream at least two hours before and six hours after taking your antibiotics.

MAOIs + AGED CHEESES

If you take an antidepressant that’s a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil (phenelzine), Emsam (selegiline), or Parnate (tranylcypromine), you’ll need to watch high-tyramine foods in your diet. Tyramine is an amino acid involved in blood pressure regulation, according to the Mayo Clinic. “This combination can cause a hypertensive crisis,” says Emmel. High-tyramine foods include aged cheeses, specific types of wine, pickled herring, brewer’s yeast, and fava beans, he notes. That said, MAOIs are not as frequently prescribed as other types of antidepressants (like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs), and if this interaction is a worry for you, talk to your doctor about other options.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE DEHYDRATION

Includes tremors, weakness, and blurry vision, says Jessica Nouhavandi, PharmD, the co-CEO and cofounder of Honeybee Health, in Culver City, California. In extreme cases, dehydration can be fatal, so it’s always important to hydrate appropriately, pay attention to any signs and symptoms of dehydration, and alert your doctor.