Antihistamine: To relieve or prevent the symptoms of colds, hay fever and allergies.
FOOD: Take prescription on an empty stomach to increase its effectiveness.
ALCOHOL: Avoid alcohol because it increases the sedative effects of the medications.

Analgesic/ Antipyretic: To treat mild to moderate pain and fever.
FOOD: For rapid relief, take on empty stomach.
ALCOHOL: Avoid or limit the use of alcohol because chronic alcohol use can increase the risk of liver damage or stomach bleeding.

Non-Steroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS): To reduce, pain, fever and inflammation.
FOOD: Take with food or milk because medications can irritate the stomach.
ALCOHOL: Avoid or limit the use of alcohol because chronic alcohol use can increase the risk of liver damage or stomach bleeding.

Corticosteroids: To relieve inflamed areas of the body. To reduce swelling and itching. To help relieve allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions.
FOOD: Take with food or milk to decrease stomach upset.

Narcotic Analgesic: To provide relief for moderate to severe pain.
ALCOHOL: Avoid alcohol because it increases the sedative effects of the medication.

Bronchodilators: To treat the symptoms of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
FOOD: High-fat meals may increase the amount of theophylline in the body, while high-carbohydrate meals may decrease it. It is important to check with the pharmacist about which form you are taking because food can have different effects depending on the dose form.
CAFFEINE: Avoid eating or drinking large amounts of foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
ALCOHOL: Avoid alcohol because it can increase the risk of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache and irritability.

Diuretics: To help eliminate water, sodium and chloride from the body.
FOOD: Some diuretics cause loss of potassium, calcium and magnesium. Triamterene is known as a “potassium sparing” diuretic. When taking triamterene avoid eating large amounts of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges and green leafy vegetables or salt substitutes.
Beta Blockers To decrease the nerve impulses to blood vessels.
ALCOHOL: Avoid drinking alcohol with propranolol/INDERAL because these drugs lower blood pressure too much.

Nitrates: To relax blood vessels and lower the demand for oxygen by the heart.
ALCOHOL: Avoid alcohol because it may add to the blood vessel-relaxing effect of nitrates and result in dangerously low blood pressure. I

Angiotension Converting Enzyme (ACE Inhibitors): To relax blood vessels by preventing angiotension II, a vasoconstrictor, from being formed.
FOOD: Take one hour before or two hours after meals. May increase the amount of potassium in the body. Too much potassium can be harmful. Avoid eating large amounts of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges and green leafy vegetables or salt substitutes.

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors: Known as “statins” Used to lower cholesterol and to reduce the production rate of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
FOOD: Lovastatin (mevacor) should be taken with the evening meal to enhance absorption.
ALCOHOL: Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol because it may increase the risk of liver damage.

Anticoagulants: To prevent the formation of blood clots.
FOOD: Vitamin K produces blood-clotting substances and may reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants. High doses of vitamin E (400 IU or more) may prolong clotting time and increase the risk of bleeding.

Antibiotics and Antifungals: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
GENERAL GUIDELINES: Tell the doctor if Antifungals by bacteria and fungi. you experience skin rashes or diarrhea. If you are using birth control, consult with your health care provider because some methods may not work when taken with antibiotics. Be sure to finish all of your medication even if you start feeling better. Take medication with plenty of water.

Antibacterials/ Penicillin: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
FOOD: Take on an empty stomach unless it upsets your stomach, then take with food.

Quinolones: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
FOOD: Take on empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food.
CAFFEINE: Taking these medications with caffeine-containing products may increase caffeine levels, leading to excitability and nervousness.

Ciprofloxacin/CIPRO Levofloxacin/LEVAQUIN Ofloxacin/FLOXIN Trovafloxacin/TROVAN Macrolides: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
FOOD: Take on empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food.

Sulfonamides: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
FOOD: Take on empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food.

Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim/BACTRIM, SEPTRA
Tetracyclines: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
FOOD: Avoid taking tetracycline with dairy products, antacids, and vitamin supplements containing iron because they can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness.

Nitromidazole: To treat infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
ALCOHOL: Avoid drinking alcohol and taking medications that contain alcohol while taking metronidazole and for at least three days after you finish the medication.

Antifungals
FOOD: It is important to avoid taking these medications with dairy products. ALCOHOL: avoid drinking alcohol and taking medications that contain alcohol while taking keroconzole and for at least three days after you finish the medication.

Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors: To treat depression, emotional and anxiety disorders.
FOOD: These medications have many dietary restrictions and people taking them need to follow the dietary guidelines and physician’s instructions very carefully. A rapid, potentially fatal increase in blood pressure can occur if foods or alcoholic
beverages containing tyramine are consumed while taking MAO inhibitors.
ALCOHOL: do not drink beer, red wine, other alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic and reduced alcohol beer and red-wine products.

Anti-Anxiety Drugs: To treat depression, emotional and anxiety disorders.
CAFFEINE: may cause excitability, nervousness and hyperactivity and lessen the anti-anxiety effects of the drugs.
ALCOHOL: may impair mental and motor performance.

Antidepressant Drugs: To treat depression, emotional and anxiety disorders.
FOOD: these medications can be taken with or without food.
ALCOHOL: although alcohol may not significantly interact with these drugs to affect mental or motor skills, people who are depressed should not drink alcohol.

Histamine Blockers: To relieve pain, promote healing and prevent irritation from returning.
FOOD: these mediations can be taken with or without food.
CAFFEINE: caffeine products may irritate the stomach.