Which food should a patient taking a calcium channel blocker avoid?

Patients taking calcium channel blockers should avoid grapefruit because it can interact with the metabolism of the medication in the liver. Grapefruit contains compounds that inhibit a specific enzyme (CYP3A4) responsible for breaking down many calcium channel blockers. When this enzyme is inhibited, it can lead to increased blood levels of the medication, potentially resulting in enhanced effects or adverse reactions, such as hypotension or bradycardia.

In the context of the other food options, eggs, milk, and bananas do not have known interactions with calcium channel blockers. Therefore, including these foods in the diet would not interfere with the medication's effectiveness or safety profile. This highlights the importance of dietary choices in managing medication therapy safely, particularly when it comes to foods like grapefruit that can alter drug metabolism.