Grapefruit Juice and Your Medications

Can drinking grapefruit juice be dangerous? If you are taking certain medications, the answer is yes

Grapefruit juice can block your body from metabolizing (breaking down) some medications. This can lead to dangerously high levels of medication in the body, which may increase the risk of serious side effects. For a few drugs, it can lead to decreased effectiveness because these drugs need to be metabolized in order to become active. The effects have been seen with as little as one 8-ounce glass of grapefruit juice.

Both grapefruit juice (either fresh or frozen) and the fruit itself can affect certain medications.

The effects of grapefruit juice on medications can last up to 3 days, so taking them at different times of day will not help.

Many medications may be affected by grapefruit juice, including, but not limited to, medications for:

• allergies
• anxiety
• cancer
• convulsions
• depression
• erectile      dysfunction
• heart      problems
• high      blood pressure
• high      cholesterol
• HIV/AIDS
• infections
• sleeping      problems
• transplants

Check with your pharmacist or doctor to see whether your medications could be affected by grapefruit juice. If you are taking any natural health products, check the labels to see if they contain grapefruit. Avoid it until your doctor or pharmacist has told you it's safe to have it.

For additional information:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN00413

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14760

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/grapefruit-juice-and-medication

Health and happiness,

Kriss