A client taking isoniazid should avoid which foods?

A client taking isoniazid should avoid which foods?

• A. Oranges, berries, and melons
• B. Bread, rice, and pasta
• C. Meat, fish, and eggs
• D. Cheese, dairy products, and bananas

Answer: (D)

Isoniazid can act as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, so foods rich in tyramine are avoided to prevent hypertensive crises. Tyramine-containing foods can trigger a dangerous blood pressure spike when combined with this type of drug. The option that includes aged cheeses and bananas (and dairy products that can be high in tyramine when aged or fermented) best represents the foods to avoid, because those items are classic sources of tyramine. The other food groups listed—citrus fruits like oranges, berries, and melons; staple carbohydrates like bread, rice, and pasta; and common proteins like meat, fish, and eggs—do not carry the same tyramine risk and are not the focus of this interaction.

Isoniazid can act as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, so foods rich in tyramine are avoided to prevent hypertensive crises. Tyramine-containing foods can trigger a dangerous blood pressure spike when combined with this type of drug. The option that includes aged cheeses and bananas (and dairy products that can be high in tyramine when aged or fermented) best represents the foods to avoid, because those items are classic sources of tyramine. The other food groups listed—citrus fruits like oranges, berries, and melons; staple carbohydrates like bread, rice, and pasta; and common proteins like meat, fish, and eggs—do not carry the same tyramine risk and are not the focus of this interaction.