Q. I’m taking the diuretic furosemide (Lasix and generic) for high blood pressure. Can I still use over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol and cold pills?
A. You should check first with your doctor or pharmacist, or an online medication tracker such as this one from CVS. Drug interactions are more common than you might think, especially between heart and allergy medications. For example, mixing some blood pressure drugs with various antihistamines (found in many OTC cold and allergy remedies) can raise blood pressure and heart rate. Interactions can also occur between drugs and certain foods, supplements, and alcohol. If you detect a possible interaction, call your doctor.
Read about some common—and surprising—food-drug interactions.
This article appears in the June 2014 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
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