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| Q. The subject of taking vitamins or medication with coffee came up in a friendly discussion recently. Some in the group take medicine or vitamins with morning coffee and breakfast. Others take their pills at breakfast with orange juice. A few of us went to vitamin stores to research the issue. One store manager said orange juice was OK, but he wasn't sure of combining vitamins and medicines. He had no idea whether coffee would affect either of them. A second store manager indicated that coffee negates the value of vitamins or medicine. We asked about tea, and he stated that was fine. He does not recommend ingesting vitamins and medicine together. Can you tell us what effect coffee, tea or orange juice has on vitamins or drugs and whether it is safe to take these together? | to Top |
Interactions between foods, drugs and nutrients are complicated, and different medicines have distinct interactions. Prednisone, for example, may deplete the bodey of vitamin D, calciu, potassium and B vitamins. Antibiotics such as tetracycline, Cipro or Noroxin should not be taken with calcium-fortified orange juice, calcium supplements or dairy products. Calcium can prevent the absorption of the antibiotic. Drugs like Cipro magnify the effects of caffeine. Some medicines, such as Foxamax, must be taken at least an hour before food, vitamins, coffee, tea, or anything but water.
Graedon, Joe and Teresa Graedon. 2005July 31. People's Pharmacy. Quinine in tonic water can be cause of tinnitus.
Updated: Saturday, December 29, 2007.
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