Antibiotics?

Question

Are there any foods that might inhibit, delay, impede, or decrease the action and effectiveness of antibiotics (specifically Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin)??

Answer 1

NO. There are not food items which can decrease the action and effectiveness of antibiotics, if the diagnosis is properly done and right type of antibiotics are given. Some persons are not susceptible for certain antibiotics and in which case the same may not work. in which case a culture test of the Blood, pus, urine or stool has to be done and accordingly alternate antibiotic medicine to be given. -

Answer 2

Actually, the answer is "Yes", but it depends on the antibiotic and the food consumed.

Here's a list of antibiotics and the effect, if any, of food on their action. This information comes from the US. FDA
(See website below)
(Sorry about the length of the data):
ANTIBACTERIALS
PENICILLIN
Some examples are:
penicillin V / VEETIDS
amoxicillin / TRIMOX, AMOXIL
ampicillin / PRINCIPEN, OMNIPEN
Interaction
Food: Take on an empty stomach, but if it upsets your stomach, take it with food.

QUINOLONES
Some examples are:
ciprofloxacin / CIPRO
levofloxacin / LEVAQUIN
ofloxacin / FLOXIN
trovafloxacin / TROVAN
Interactions
Food: Take on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take it with food. However, avoid calcium-containing products like milk, yogurt, vitamins or minerals containing iron, and antacids because they significantly decrease drug concentration.

Caffeine: Taking these medications with caffeine- containing products (e.g., coffee, colas, tea, and chocolate) may increase caffeine levels, leading to excitability and nervousness.

CEPHALOSPORINS
Some examples are:
cefaclor / CECLOR, CECLOR CD
cefadroxil / DURICEF
cefixime / SUPRAX
cefprozil / CEFZIL
cephalexin / KEFLEX, KEFTAB
Interaction
Food: Take on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food.

MACROLIDES
Some examples are:
azithromycin / ZITHROMAX
clarithromycin / BIAXIN
erythromycin / E-MYCIN, ERY-TAB, ERYC
erythromycin + sulfisoxazole / PEDIAZOLE
Interaction
Food: Take on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food.

SULFONAMIDES
An example is:
sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim /BACTRIM, SEPTRA
Interaction
Food: Take on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food.

TETRACYCLINES
Some examples are:
tetracycline / ACHROMYCIN, SUMYCIN
doxycycline / VIBRAMYCIN
minocycline / MINOCIN
Interaction
Food: Take on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. If your stomach gets upset, take with food. However, it is important to avoid taking tetracycline / ACHROMYCIN, SUMYCIN with dairy products, antacids and vitamins containing iron because these can interfere with the medication's effectiveness.

NITROIMIDAZOLE
An example is:
metronidazole / FLAGYL
Interaction
Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol or using medications that contain alcohol or eating foods prepared with alcohol while you are taking metronidazole and for at least three days after you finish the medication. Alcohol may cause nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, headaches, and flushing.

ANTIFUNGALS
Some examples are:
fluconazole / DIFLUCAN
griseofulvin / GRIFULVIN
ketoconazole / NIZORAL
itraconazole / SPORANOX
Interaction
Food: It is important to avoid taking these medications with dairy products (milk, cheeses, yogurt, ice cream), or antacids.

Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol, using medications that contain alcohol, or eating foods prepared with alcohol while you are taking ketoconazole/NIZORAL and for at least three days after you finish the medication. Alcohol may cause nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, headaches and flushing.