IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO DRINK GRAPEFRUIT JUICE WHILE TAKING DRUGS?
Grapefruit juice provides many nutrients, such as vitamin C and lycopene. But chemicals in grapefruit interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) certain drugs in your digestive system. This can result in excessively high levels of these drugs in your blood and an increased risk of serious side effects.
The exact chemicals in grapefruit juice that cause this interaction aren't known. But these chemicals are present in the pulp and peel of grapefruit as well as in the juice. For this reason any grapefruit product, including dietary supplements that contain grapefruit bioflavonoids, can interact with certain medications.
Most Drugs Safe
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) acknowledges that grapefruit juice interacts with some cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The FDOC says grapefruit juice doesn't interact with most prescription drugs. The FDOC also notes that patients can usually take other drugs in the same drug class that don't
interact with grapefruit juice.
Drugs That Interact With Grapefruit Juice
- Anxiety: Xanax, Buspar, Versed, Halcion
- Depression: Luvox, Zoloft
- Allergies: Allegra
- Abnormal heart rhythm: Cordarone, quinidine
- Heart disease/stroke/blood clots: Coumadin
- Epilepsy: Tegretol
- Cancer: Cyclophosphamide, etoposide, ifosfamide, tamoxifen, vinblastine, vincristine
- Cough: Dextromethorphan (found in many over-the-counter cold
medicines)
- HIV: Agenerase, Crixivan, Viracept, Norvir, Fortovase
- Prostate enlargement: Proscar
- Heart disease/High blood pressure: Coreg, Cardizem, Plendil, Cardene, Adalat, Procardia, Nimotop, Sular, Covera, Calan, Verelan
- Erectile dysfunction: Viagra, Cialis
- Asthma/Emphysema: Theophylline
- High cholesterol: Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Zocor
- Pain: Alfenta, Duragesic, Actiq, Sufenta
- Infection: Biaxin, Sporanox, erythromycin, troleandomycin
If you take any of these drugs, you should completely avoid grapefruit products unless otherwise directed by your doctor. It should be kept in mind that waiting to take these medications - even up to 24 hours - after you drink grapefruit juice will not prevent an interaction.
Reference
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/20/health/webmd/main668105.shtml
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN00413
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