![\"Taking](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-1778015143.jpg\")
Your medication could become ineffective, the pharmacist warned(Image: Getty)<\/p>\nThe warning comes ahead of Christmas as your favourite snacks and festive drinks could be on the listYour medication could become ineffective, the pharmacist warned(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
A pharmacist has urged people to carefully consider what they eat and drink when taking medication. The fresh warning comes from an expert who revealed that what people are consuming during the day is making their medication less effective, and in some cases, increasing the risk of side effects<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ian Budd, Prescribing Pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist4U<\/a>, shared which common foods and drinks can interfere with tablets. He explained: “As pharmacists, our goal is to help people understand how to use medications safely and effectively, and food<\/a> plays a bigger role than many people realise.<\/p>\n “Even choices we think are healthy, like fruits, vegetables, or supplements, can sometimes affect how your medication works or how well your body absorbs it. For example, something as simple as having grapefruit juice with breakfast can interfere with blood pressure<\/a> medication, antidepressants or cholesterol medication, while foods high in vitamin K can impact how blood thinners work. These are small details, but they can make a real difference in how well your treatment does its job<\/a>.”<\/p>\n 6 common food and drinks you may need to avoid if you take medication 1. Grapefruit is the biggest culprit for medication interactions<\/strong><\/p>\n The expert shared that the fruit and its juice are both commonly consumed with tablets, as people often have them for breakfast or as a snack. So if you take your medication in the morning with it, you may want to stop.<\/p>\n The pharmacist explained: “They contain natural chemicals that block an enzyme in your liver, which helps break down certain medicines. When that happens, your body can\u2019t process the drug as it normally would, so more of it stays in your system. That can make side effects stronger or more likely.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is especially important if you\u2019re taking medicines like statins, blood pressure tablets, some antidepressants, or immune-suppressing drugs. Even one glass of grapefruit juice can have an effect that lasts for up to one day, so it\u2019s safest to avoid it completely with these medications.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Leafy greens<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes – even your greens are at risk. The professional noted that spinach, kale and broccoli are full of vitamin K, which plays a big role in helping your blood to clot. Warfarin works by slowing down vitamin K\u2019s effect, which is how it helps prevent blood clots.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, if you suddenly eat a lot more (or a lot less) vitamin K-rich foods than usual, it can throw off the balance and make warfarin either less effective (if you eat more greens) or too strong (if you suddenly cut them off). This is why pharmacists always recommend keeping your intake consistent rather than avoiding greens altogether.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Cranberry juice<\/strong><\/p>\n This delicious juice is seen as one of the healthiest choices – after all – it’s a fruit. But it can be a problem if you\u2019re taking warfarin. Ian said that the red berries contain natural compounds that can affect how your body breaks down warfarin, which could make the drug stronger than intended.<\/p>\n “That means your blood could become thinner, increasing the risk of bruising or bleeding”, he cautioned, adding: “It\u2019s not an issue for everyone, and an occasional glass is unlikely to cause harm. But drinking cranberry juice regularly or taking cranberry supplements can be risky if you\u2019re on warfarin. It\u2019s always best to check with your pharmacist before making it part of your daily routine.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Dairy products<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-849177502.jpg\")
You may even have grapefruit hidden in your morning smoothie<\/p>\n![\"Tenderstem](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-537462946.jpg\")
How do you like to eat your broccoli?(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Bottle](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-1569847632.jpg\")
Your milk could be the culprit(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
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You may not want a glass with your Christmas dinner(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n