What not to take with beta blockers?

Beta blockers are a widely used medication that alters the function of hormones in your body, which reduces blood pressure and heart rate. A lot of people take beta blockers for various reasons – some use it to reduce anxiety or blood pressure while others rely on them after a heart attack.

But what many people don’t know is that there are certain foods, drinks, supplements and medications you should avoid when taking beta blockers because they can interfere with how the drug works. In this guide, we will explore what not to take with beta-blockers so you can achieve optimum results and stay healthy.

Understanding Beta-Blockers

Before delving into the foods/medications/supplements/drinks that interact poorly with beta-blockers, it’s essential to understand how these drugs work.

Beta-blockers block adrenaline (also known as epinephrine), a hormone produced by your adrenal gland. Adrenaline boosts your heart rate during fight-or-flight situations; therefore, blocking this hormone slows down your heartbeat and reduces stress levels drastically.

The following factors may make you more prone to side effects from beta-blocker usage:
– Age: Older adults may have reduced kidney and liver function,
resulting in slower metabolism.
– Gender: Women often experience more side effects than men.
– Other medical conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Remember to always inform your doctor about any underlying health issues before taking any new medication.

Foods You Should Avoid

Certain food items contain high levels of tyramines could adversely impact how well most types of non-selectivebeta-concerning medicines operate:. Tyramines cause an increase in norepinephrine activity resulting in increased BP:
Processed meat like salami or cured ham
Cheese such as feta cheese blue cheese
Sauerkraut

Medications to Avoid

It’s crucial to know that some medications clash with beta-blockers. You should inform your doctor of all the medications you are on, so they can prescribe the right dose and type of beta-blockers for you.

These drugs must be avoided when taking beta-blockers:
Calcium channel blockers (diltiazem/verapamil): Can cause heart rate to drop dangerously low when combined with non-selective beta-blockers (including propranolol).
Indomethacin: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) commonly used to treat inflammation; increases blood pressure, leading to hypertensive or high blood pressure episodes in people who regularly consume them alongside their beta blockers.
NB: Some foods also contain traces of NSAIDs-examples:ibuprofen-

Supplements That Don’t Mix With Beta Blockers

Various supplements may influence how well your body absorbs and utilizes the medication – it may interact negatively with your medication, causing adverse effects or reducing its efficacy. Do not take:

Vitamin E presents an increased risk for bleeding events alongside anticoagulation therapy such as warfarin plus aspirin, and nonselective BBs like propanolol.

Note that herbal remedies have unknown conjugation potential but still affect-blood-thinning/narrowing effects while corticosteroids-like prednisone- raise norepinephrine levels

Other supplements known for interacting poorly with beta-blockers include:
Vitamin D3 affects calcium metabolism,
which could result in undesirable side effects if consumed regularly alongside calcium-channel blockers(BBs)
St John’s Wort is a herb sold mostly over-the-counter at pharmacies supposedly providing anxiety treatment supplement however consumption leads to decreased duration life span according studies by Lilly Labs

Drinks To Be Wary Of While Taking Beta Blocker(s)

Certain drinks could undo any good work accomplished through-beta-blocking medication.
Be mindful of:
Alcohol: Taking beta-blockers alongside alcohol could cause an abnormally low heart rate, dizziness or electrolyte imbalances that may result in- seizures and cardiac arrest.

Other drinks with high caffeine content could increase BP:- such as energy drinks or coffee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s vital to be mindful of what you consume when taking beta-blockers – this will ensure that these medications work effectively without causing any adverse effects.

Remember to inform your doctor about all the supplements/medications/drinks/foods you’re consuming before beginning a new drug regimen. This way, they can make informed decisions for treatment options and eliminate compatibility issues that may arise during therapy!

Stay safe! Start living healthy today!!

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