Posted on 03/20/2017 2:47:38 PM PDT by blam
Note: This article contains general information not specific medical advice. Talk to your physician before changing your use of any medication.
Grapefruit is a delicious citrus fruit with many health benefits.
However, it can interact with some common medications, altering their effects on your body.
If you're curious about the grapefruit warning on many medicines, this article will help you understand why it's there and what your options are.
Here's a closer look at 32 common drugs that may have dangerous interactions with grapefruit.
How does it interact with medications?
How does it interact with medications?
Medications are processed in your liver and small intestine by a specialized group of proteins called cytochrome P450 (CYPs).
CYPs break down medications, reducing the blood levels of many of them.
Grapefruit and a few of its close relatives, such as Seville oranges, tangelos, pomelos and Minneolas, contain a class of chemicals called furanocoumarins.
Furanocoumarins disrupt the normal function of CYPs. In fact, studies show that they increase the blood levels of over 85 medications (1).
By slowing down the way in which CYPs normally break down medications in your gut and liver, grapefruit can increase the side effects of these drugs (1).
There are three things to know in order to understand if and how you can safely consume grapefruit with these medications.
1. It doesnt take much: One whole grapefruit or one glass of grapefruit juice is enough to alter how these medications affect you.
2. It lasts several days: Grapefruits ability to affect medication lasts for 13 days. Taking your medication a few hours apart from consuming it isnt long enough.
3. Its significant: For a small number of drugs, grapefruits effects can be serious.
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(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
And not just grapefruit, can be cranberry juice or other.
Absolutely! Until my hubby developed diabetes, I made ruby grapefruit juice every morning.
I hope this doesn’t mean blood oranges which I occasionally serve.
One I know of that isn’t listed is Methotrexate, which lowers the immune response.
Thanks, blam. My husband loves grapefruit juice but has give it up since he was diagnosed with type2 diabetes.
Thanks for the warning.
Fortunately, I hate grapefruit.
Yes it does.
Thank you for posting. One of mine is on there. I love grapefruit but haven’t had any for a long time. I will avoid them and those other citrus fruits.
Me too, I never got the appeal of that bitter taste.
Atorvastatin
Lovastatin
Simvastatin
Felodipine
Nifedipine
Losartan
Eplerenone
Amiodarone
Dronedarone
Erythromycin
Rilpivirine and related HIV drugs
Primaquine and related antimalarial drugs
Albendazole
Bupropion
Quetiapine
Lurasidone
Ziprasidone
Buspirone
Diazepam
Midazolam
Triazolam
Apixaban
Rivaroxaban
Clopidogrel
Ticagrelor
Fentanyl
Oxycodone
Colchicine
Sildenafil
Tadalafil
Tamsulosin
Silodosin
“The bottom line
“Grapefruit interferes with proteins in the small intestine and liver that normally break down many medications.
“Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking these medications can lead to higher levels in your blood and more side effects.
“With some drugs, with even small amounts of grapefruit can cause severe side effects. Therefore, the combination should be avoided.
“These drugs may be marked with a grapefruit interaction warning by your pharmacy.
“Make sure your doctor and pharmacist know if you regularly consume grapefruit. They can help you decide whether its safe to consume while on certain medications.”
Eat grapefruit. Skip the drugs.
But Mono blood oranges are good for your liver so you might want to check with your doctor to be sure since liver interaction seems to be part of the problem.
Thank you! Good to know.
Ok, thanks.
I LOVE grapefruit.
I have it daily as part of a fruit juice blend to keep healthy.
If you aren’t on any of the drugs listed, try Ruby Grapefruit which is much sweeter than ordinary grapefruit. Its interior is not yellow but dark pink. Delicious!
Well, we’re now coming to the end of orange/grapefruit season. How I miss grapefruit (I just won’t buy for one) but have been adding blood oranges to our nightly salads! I’ll be careful from now on.
I’m more concerned for my wife than myself ... she likes grapefruit. She’s not on any of the afore-mentioned medicines, but with the passage of time, you never can tell.
There’s a tendency to not take these things seriously.
And, come to think of it, every few years, I have occasionally taken erithrymycin, which is on the list.
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