Potential Food-Drug Interactions in Long-Term Care

Medication administration at meal-times may result in food-drug interactions. Older adults are especially at risk of food-drug interactions leading to adverse drug effects and subtherapeutic responses. Research on potential food-drug interactions is limited and dated. This study examined the frequency of potential food-drug interactions in long-term care. Forty-nine percent of drugs administered at mealtimes had potential for interaction, with cardiovascular medications given most frequently. The frequency of potential interactions makes this phenomenon critically important to review. Collaboration between nurses and pharmacists may identify optimal medication scheduling. Nurses can enhance care by identifying strategies to limit interactions through knowledge and creative, collaborative administration schedules.