My brother has a drinking problem, he uses anti-booze tablets, and was told that if he eats a few banana's, shortly after taking the tablet it neutrilizes the anti-booze tablet. Is this true?

Hi Jeneveve,
I assume your brother is on Antibuse or Naltrezone, and that this would have something to do with the potassium in the bananas. I have searched, and can find absolutely no correlation or documented interaction between either bananas or potassium and either of these drugs. Personally, I'm very skeptical, but I really wouldn't know for sure.
Sorry I can't be of more help. Take care.

Why not stop taking the pills if he wants to drink? The side affects of some medicines with alcohol can be very bad. He doesn't want to go there.

Hi Isabelle,
In a sense, that is the odd point of these medications. They are often used as a last resort for people who are found unable to quit by other means. As far as I know, they work by blocking the metabolizing effect of certain enzymes in the liver. Though, the net effect is that as liitle as one drink can cause the person to become quite ill, a few drinks can be potentially lethal. Patients used to, and may still have to sign a waiver to receive the drug. If he is on one these drugs, it is because he is making a sincere and concerted effort to quit.

Thomas I agree but, how sincere is he when he is trying to find a way to get around the drug and drink. You are right, it is very dangerous.
Before I would ever discuss a way to get around the drug and drink.. I would advise discontinuing the drug. I do believe there is a time between the last dose of medication and the time it is safe to ingest alcohol.
A person has to be ready to stop any drug and this includes alcohol and tobacco... If they are trying to beat the drug which is helping them to stop the behavior then.. it is much safer to discontinue the drug.
I have seen death result from doing both.

Yes, I agree, regardless, he has to be ready to quit. And certainly trying find to a way to inhibit the drug is borderline behaviorwise. It's a tough call. As you said, he may die either way. I guess the only hope is that the drug would make him think twice. No matter how you look at it, at this point, it's a decision that really only he can make. He has to choose to live.