Effects of food on drug absorption.

This chapter provides an update on drug-food interactions reported in the literature during the past five years. The number of studies examining this phenomenon has increased dramatically, and many of the results of these studies have been unpredictable and spectacular. Drug-food interactions should really be considered as formulation-food interactions because of increasing evidence that a drug may be affected differently by food when it is administered in different formulations. Drug-food interactions may be classified into five categories: those causing reduced, delayed, increased, and accelerated absorption, and those in which food has no effect. While it continues to be necessary to examine drug-food interactions for specific drugs and drug formulations, additional avenues need to be explored to seek mechanistic patterns that may lead to better prediction of the nature and extent of changes in circulating drug levels due to the presense of food, and their possible clinical impact.