Grapefruit can negatively interact with some medications
It’s the best time of year for grapefruit — but don’t rush to the store just yet. Experts warn that the citrus fruit can interfere with several kinds of prescription medications.
While eating grapefruit and drinking its juice can be part of a healthy diet, the interaction between the food and certain medications can be a concern, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wrote on its website.
Grapefruit juice inhibits a chemical in the intestine that is necessary for the breakdown of many drugs. This chemical’s absence can lead to higher blood levels. The result: too much drug in your body.
“Many drugs are broken down (metabolized) with the help of a vital enzyme called CYP3A4 in the small intestine. Grapefruit juice can block the action of intestinal CYP3A4, so instead of being metabolized, more of the drug enters the blood and stays in the body longer,” according to the FDA.
This means, if you enjoy grapefruit and incorporate it into your diet, consult your doctor before beginning a new medication. And ask your pharmacist for the most up-to-date information on food-drug interactions for all of the medications you use.
“Grapefruit does interact with some medications, and anyone who’s taking calcium channel blockers or statins [for high cholesterol] needs to talk with their physician or pharmacist about this issue,” Bill Stinson, Ph.D., told WebMD. “However, there are so many positive constituents in grapefruit ... that consumers shouldn’t cut it out of their diets completely.”
Here are examples of some types of medications that can negatively interact with grapefruit, the FDA reported:
- Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin).
- Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine).
- Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Neoral and Sandimmune capsule or oral solution (both cyclosporine).
- Some anti-anxiety drugs, such as BuSpar (buspirone).
- Some corticosteroids that treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, such as Entocort EC and Uceris tablet (both budesonide).
- Some drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as Pacerone and Cordarone tablet (both amiodarone).
- Some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine).
About the Author
Avery Newmark covers travel, wellness, events and trending news for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With a dual background in film production and journalism, Avery came to the AJC after working as a video editor. She enjoys film photography and live music in her free time. Reach her at avery.newmark@ajc.com.
