Food and Drug Interactions
Key Points for This Section
Some foods do not mix safely with certain drugs.
Cancer patients may be treated with a number of drugs. Taking certain foods and drugs together may decrease or change how well the drugs work or cause life-threatening side effects. The following table lists some of the food and drug interactions that may occur with certain anticancer drugs:
Drug-Food Interactions| Brand Name | Generic Name | Food Interactions |
| Targretin | Bexarotene | Grapefruit juice may increase the drug's effects. |
| Folex | Methotrexate | Alcohol may cause liver damage. |
| Rheumatrex | ||
| Mithracin | Plicamycin | Supplements of calcium and vitamin D may decrease the drug's effect. |
| Matulane | Procarbazine | Alcohol may cause headache, trouble breathing, flushed skin, nausea, or vomiting, Caffeine may raise blood pressure. |
| Temodar | Temozolomide | Food may slow or decrease the drug's effect. |
Talk with your doctor about possible food and drug interactions.
Some herbal supplements do not mix safely with certain drugs or foods.
Taking some herbal supplements with certain foods and drugs may change how well cancer treatment works or cause life-threatening side effects. Talk with your doctor about how herbal supplements may affect your cancer treatment.
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