Orlando, Florida (Ivanhoe Newswire) – More than 131 million adults in the US take a prescription medication. But taking these medications with popular beverages, such as coffee and juice, can be dangerous.

About 94% drink caffeinated beverages and about 23% enjoy a glass of juice, but if you take medication, you should be careful what you drink.

The caffeine in a cup of coffee can interact with common medications. Taking antidepressants with caffeine can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure. Caffeine can also interact with blood thinners, such as warfarin, causing more of the medication to remain in the body. Antibiotics and cold or allergy medications can inhibit the metabolism of caffeine, which can make you feel jittery and anxious.

Caffeine can also reduce the absorption rate of thyroid medications by up to 50%. Caffeinated beverages can also affect how asthma medications, blood pressure medications, ADHD therapies, antipsychotics, and osteoporosis medications work.

Fruit juices can also interact with medications. Orange juice may reduce how well your body absorbs osteoporosis medications. Apple juice may reduce the effects of certain blood pressure medications. And you should not drink grapefruit juice with certain cholesterol-lowering medications, heart medications, hormone therapies, blood pressure medications, anti-anxiety medications, steroids, or medications that suppress the immune system.

Many drugs also interact with alcohol, including depression or anxiety medications, diabetes medications, cold medications, blood pressure medications, sleeping pills, pain relievers, and more.

Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, producer; Bob Walko, editor

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