What should you not eat or drink when taking high blood pressure medication?

Alcoholic beverages

People who are taking beta blockers to control blood pressure should stop using alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can increase heart rate and blood pressure, reducing the effectiveness of the medication.

Grapefruit

People taking blood thinners or calcium channel blocker blood pressure medications should consult their doctor before eating grapefruit. Grapefruit may interact with drug-degrading enzymes, increasing side effects such as dizziness or changes in heart rate. Calcium channel blockers work by helping the heart muscle and arteries relax, opening blood vessels and lowering blood pressure, so this effect may be affected by eating grapefruit.

Foods rich in potassium

Some blood pressure medications can cause the body to retain potassium. Excess potassium can cause heart arrhythmias and muscle weakness if not controlled.

Meals high in fat

Fat in meals digests more slowly, which can cause the body to absorb the drug poorly if taken at the same time as a high-fat meal. To ensure optimal effectiveness of the drug, users should take it on an empty stomach, which is about one hour before meals or two hours after meals.

Coffee

Drinking a cup of coffee after breakfast helps wake up and increase energy, but can temporarily increase blood pressure, especially in people who are sensitive to caffeine. Caffeine can also cause heart palpitations and reduce the effectiveness of beta blockers in some people. When combined with certain nervous system stimulants, caffeine can increase the risk of heart palpitations, depending on the dose and medical condition.

Prepared foods

Instant noodles, burgers or French fries are delicious but often contain a lot of salt, hidden sodium, preservatives and trans fats. A diet high in sodium causes the body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure and can reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.

Dairy products

Milk and dairy products can interfere with the absorption of some drugs, especially some antibiotics and calcium channel blockers, because the calcium in milk binds to the drugs. To ensure effectiveness, the medication should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after consuming milk, cheese or calcium-rich products.

Functional foods from herbs

Ginseng, ginkgo and some other herbs may interact with prescription blood pressure medications, increasing or decreasing the effectiveness of treatment. You should consult your doctor before using these products.