Drug interactions

[Guest guest]

MSN recently ran an article on drug interactions, republished from Prevention

Magazine. The whole article is well worth reading, but the two sections below

may be of particular interest to mold victims:

http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100175887 & GT1=10613

Rx For Safety

If you take...

A common cholesterol drug

Specifically lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), or atorvastatin

(Lipitor) Possible conflicts: Macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin

(Biaxin) or Erythromycin Azole antifungals taken orally, such as the

prescription drugs ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox)

Why: Some antibiotics and antifungals can block enzymes that help break down

these specific cholesterol drugs. As a result, you may end up with 4 to 10 times

more cholesterol medication in your blood than your doctor intended — enough to

greatly increase your risk of muscle or kidney damage.

Protect yourself: You can simply take a break from Mevacor or Zocor if you need

one of these specific antibiotics or antifungals, Horn says. (Once your

infection clears up and you're off those drugs, you can safely go back to your

cholesterol medication.) Or your doctor may be able to prescribe a different

remedy for your infection.

If you take...

A corticosteroid for asthma, hay fever, or other allergies such as budesonide

(Pulmicort, Rhinocort) or prednisone (Liquid Pred)

Possible conflicts: Antibiotics, antifungals, antidepressants and acalcium

channel blocker for blood pressure — specifically diltiazem (Cardizem) or

verapamil hydrochloride (Calan)Why: When you take a corticosteroid — whether in

a pill or via inhaler — you depend on certain enzymes in your body to break the

drug down after it's done the job. But recent studies suggest that a number of

other medicines can block the action of these enzymes, potentially leading to a

corticosteroid overdose, Horn says. That can cause Cushing's syndrome, in which

you can gain weight in your upper body and develop hypertension, bruising,

weakness, depression, acne, and excess hair growth.Protect yourself: The risk is

greater if you're taking the corticosteroid in pill form (inhalers deliver a

lower dose) or if you add a pill to your inhaler regimen, as people sometimes do

for an allergy flare-up. Ask your doctor if any of your other medications could

potentially slow the breakdown of the drug. Cushing's syndrome is reversible,

but you don't want to suffer any longer than necessary.One safety valve: It

takes time for corticosteroids to build up to toxic levels, so a short course of

an antibiotic or antifungal shouldn't cause trouble.

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