Drug Class Could Keep You From Making Deadly Drug Interaction Decision

by: Mike Miller
4/28/2017

With more people taking prescription medication it is no surprise society is seeing a huge increase in serious health issues and death from people mixing their various meds.

Despite warning labels on prescription pill bottles and frequent news reports of celebrity overdoses, people are not taking the risks of fatal drug combinations seriously. Whitney Houston was the latest celebrity who died by combining drugs. Here are some of the biggest risks reported by psychcentral.com:

Seniors at Risk

One of the groups I am most concerned about are our senior citizens. Seniors are more likely to take a variety of medications for different ailments and whose bodies are more sensitive to the drugs’ effects. Given that more than half of older adults take five or more prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements every day, the risk of an adverse drug interaction is high.

Following are a few drugs not to mix.

Blood Thinners and Aspirin

Combining the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin) with aspirin can significantly increase the risk of bleeding. The risk is even higher when taken with garlic pills or leafy, green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage or Brussels sprouts.

Blood pressure Meds and Potassium

Combining this blood pressure meds like Zestril or Prinivil with potassium can cause irregular heart rhythms or death.

Cholesterol Meds and Niacin

Ironically, the vitamin niacin can be used to lower both cholesterol and triglycerides. However, combining popular prescription cholesterol drugs (statins) and over-the-counter niacin (a type of B vitamin that lowers cholesterol) can increase the risk of muscle pain and damage. Statins can also be dangerous when combined with grapefruit juice, which increases the risk of liver and kidney damage and the breakdown of muscle cells.

The best way to educate yourself about the medications you are taking. Take notes when you go to the doctor’s office and pharmacy and consider a 15 hour drug education class to learn more. Medications make you feel better, but they could make you feel a whole lot worse if you make the mistake of combining them.