Psychotropic, or psychoactive drugs, alter your mood. Other names for these drugs are sedatives, tranquilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants. They may make you less anxious or more alert, improve your ability to concentrate or brighten your mood. Some foods can make psychotropic drugs less effective or increase the risk of side effects, and some supplements can also interact with psychotropic drugs. If you think foods or supplements are interfering with your psychotropic drugs, contact your doctor.
Foods and MAIOs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are prescribed for depression and are known to interact with a number of foods, according to pharmacist W. Steven Pray, PhD. MAOIs prevent your body from metabolizing the amino acid tyramine. Tyramine-rich foods such as anchovies, sherry, beer, pepperoni, salami, strong or aged cheeses, raisins, bananas and soy sauce can cause severe headaches and even bleeding into the brain in patients who also take MAOIs.
Grapefruit and Caffeine
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice interfere with a number of medications, including some psychotropic drugs. The juice affects your liver’s ability to metabolize the drugs and can increase the medication effect by as much as five times, according to an article published in the March 2011 “Oman Medical Journal.” Caffeine is another food substance that may interact with psychotropic drugs. Some drugs form precipitates and become ineffective if you take them with caffeine, according to Dr. Marilyn Semenchuk of GlaxoSmithKline.
Supplements and Medications
The term supplement could refer to an herbal medication, vitamins, minerals or other substances. Supplements have a wide variety of effects in the body and on medications such as psychotropic drugs. A supplement may have a similar effect to a drug; taking both together can increase the effect. Other supplements may counteract the effect of a particular drug, affect the rate at which it is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract or the way your body breaks down a drug.
Supplements
A number of dietary supplements can cause problems with psychotropic medications. Dr. Pray notes that St. John’s wort can interact with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as well as with the tranquilizers amitriptyline, alprazolam and midazolam. Capsicum, a supplement derived from hot peppers, can interact with MAIOs. If you take fish oil, it can interact with antipsychotic medications. Other supplements that may interact with psychotropic medications include coenzyme Q10, eucalyptus, ephedra, gingko, ginseng, cat’s claw and kava, according to Dr. Pray.
Considerations and Warnings
Because there is such a wide range of drugs and actions, it is impossible to identify all foods or supplements you should avoid when taking a particular psychotropic drug. Discuss the specific contraindications for a particular drug with a pharmacist or your doctor. Don’t start or stop a drug, food or supplement without talking to the health care professional managing your medical care.
