Americans do not get enough fiber in their diets, according to the American Dietetic Association. Fiber is a healthy nutrient found in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Including more fiber in your diet helps control hunger, aids in bowel function and lowers your risk of heart disease. But fiber can interact with certain medications, making them less effective. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and potential food interactions before you start taking them.
Antidepressants
Fiber may lower blood levels of tricyclic antidepressants, decreasing their effectiveness. Tricyclic antidepressants are a type of antidepressant that inhibits the uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin by blocking the transporters in the brain that reuptake these chemicals. Brand names include Asendin, Pamelor and Elavil. These medications are used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and mood disorders. If you're taking these medications, you should talk to your doctor about interactions with fiber before making changes to your diet.
Diabetes Medications
Fiber is an important component of the diabetic diet. Fiber in food slows digestion, allowing for a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream. However, fiber may decrease your ability to absorb some diabetic medications, including glyburide and metformin. This is primarily seen with fiber supplements, and it is recommended that you not take fiber supplements at the same time you take your diabetic medication. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about when you should take your diabetic medication.
Cholesterol Lowering Medications
If you have high blood cholesterol, your doctor may have advised you to increase the fiber in your diet to help improve your numbers. While some fiber may help improve the action of your cholesterol lowering medication, other fibers may inhibit effectiveness. Soluble fiber, found in foods such as oatmeal, may help improve the cholesterol lowering capabilities of the cholesterol lowering medications colestipol and cholestyramine. Pectin, a type of fiber found in fruits and oat bran, may inhibit your body's ability to absorb the cholesterol medications known as statins, which include Lipitor.
Seizure Medication
Soluble fiber may also decrease your body's ability to absorb the seizure medication carbamazepine, also known as Tegretol. It is important that your doctor closely monitor your blood levels of carbamazepine to make sure you maintain adequate levels. Talk to your doctor about your diet and whether you need to make changes to maximize your body's ability to absorb your medication.
References
- American Dietetic Association; Health Implications of Dietary Fiber; October 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Possible Interactions with: Fiber; Ernest Hawkins
- Drugs.com: Tegretol
- Drugs.com: Tricyclic Antidepressants
- MayoClinic.com; Cholesterol: Top Five Foods to Lower Your Numbers; May 2010
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