Pharmacist issues Halloween sweets warning for people on these medications

Halloween might offer a wealth of sweet treats, but certain sweets could present serious health dangers that have nothing to do with their sugar levels. Combining certain confectionery with particular medicines could trigger unforeseen complications - particularly for those being treated for depression, anxiety and heart conditions.

Kiran Jones, a Clinical Pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, has revealed which medications might be impacted, from worsening adverse effects to undermining the drug's effectiveness, and which components patients should avoid.

Depression, anxiety and Parkinson's medications

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame can affect the neurotransmitters that Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors work on.

These drugs are commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety and Parkinson's disease and prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters.

Combining these medicines with aspartame can cause an excessive build-up of neurotransmitters, leading to adverse effects including hypertension, headaches, anxiety and insomnia.

The pharmacist warned: "For those taking these medications, it's crucial to avoid or limit foods containing aspartame to prevent these potentially dangerous interactions."

ADHD, anti-anxiety and blood pressure medications

Aspartame and comparable artificial sweeteners are frequently present in sugar-free treats and products such as ice cream, jellies, cereals and fizzy drinks. ADHD, anti-anxiety and blood pressure medications can be significantly affected by caffeine.

The stimulant can amplify the effects of drugs like Adderrall while simultaneously undermining the calming influence of SSRIs.

Furthermore, it can counteract the benefits of blood pressure medication such as beta-blockers by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. This could lead to unpleasant side effects like heart palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, elevated cortisol levels and even heighten the risk of serious complications like strokes or heart attacks.

The main Halloween treats that contain caffeine are chocolate-based sweets or coffee-flavoured candies.

Blood pressure, diuretics and antiarrhythmics medications

Those on blood pressure, diuretics and antiarrhythmics medications should be wary of glycyrrhizin, a chemical found in liquorice sweets. This substance can cause the body to lose potassium and retain sodium, leading to increased water retention and higher blood pressure.

This directly undermines the effects of blood pressure medications, potentially resulting in uncontrolled hypertension even in small amounts if consumed regularly. It can also exacerbate heart rhythm issues.

Allergy medications

People who rely on antihistamines to manage allergies may need to exercise caution around sweets with food colouring like M&Ms and Skittles. The dyes in these sweets can stimulate the release of histamines, the very substance that antihistamines aim to block.

This could hamper the potency of the medication, reducing its effect. Moreover, some individuals might have a sensitivity to these synthetic food colourings, potentially triggering allergic reactions like hives, itching and swelling.