According to a Center for Disease Control survey from 2015-2018, nearly 50% of people surveyed had used at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days. There are potential medication interactions that can make a drug less effective and even cause negative side effects. One of the most common food-drug interactions pertains to grapefruit and
grapefruit juice. How and why do drugs interact with grapefruit products, and why is it a concern? Keep reading to find out. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice contain chemicals called furanocoumarins. Furanocoumarins disrupt an enzyme called CYP (cytochrome P450) in the small intestine which helps metabolize and clear medications from your
bloodstream. When the action of this type of enzyme is impacted medication is broken down more slowly, increasing the blood levels of the medication. This means that the side effects of certain prescription medications can be enhanced. A review on grapefruit and drug interactions found that over 85 medications interact with grapefruit. Here is a list of some of
the more common medications that interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Statins are a type of cholesterol-lowering drug. Statins work by blocking an enzyme that helps your liver make cholesterol. Some of the affected drugs that interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice
are: A study on grapefruit and drug interactions found that drinking a glass of grapefruit juice daily increases the blood level of simvastatin and lovastatin by 260%. Blood pressure medicationNearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, so blood pressure medication is commonly prescribed. Certain types of blood pressure medication interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice including:
Drinking grapefruit juice with blood pressure-lowering medications can cause a drop in blood pressure by increasing the blood levels of the medication. Other blood pressure medications that don’t interact with grapefruit include Spironolactone and Amlodipine. Medications for abnormal heart rhythmWhile not as common as blood pressure medication, people with abnormal heart rhythms taking Amiodarone or Dronedarone should be aware that those medications can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Antimicrobial medicationSeveral medications fight infections by killing bacteria and viruses. Fortunately only a few interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice including:
Medications for mood disordersMedications used to treat mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and panic attacks are known to interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
Some pain medicationsOver-the-counter pain medications don’t interact with grapefruit. Certain prescription pain meds do interact with grapefruit and include:
Medications for prostate issues and erectile dysfunctionMedications for erectile dysfunction help relax blood vessels to improve blood flow, which can potentially cause low blood pressure. Increasing the bioavailability of the drug by consuming grapefruit could be potentially dangerous.
Possible side effectsGrapefruit and grapefruit juice can cause medication levels to build up in your blood. This means that the medication’s bioavailability is enhanced and may cause more serious side effects. For example, drinking grapefruit juice with a blood pressure medication might cause your blood pressure to fall too low, resulting in dizziness and possible falls. If you take statins and consume grapefruit products there is a risk of developing rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare syndrome when muscle fibers break down and damaging proteins enter the bloodstream. Rhabdomyolysis can result in kidney failure and extreme cases, death. Get Your FREE Eye Health Diet Plan
 Should you cut grapefruit out of your diet?You should speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about whether or not you can safely include small amounts of grapefruit in your diet. The consensus is to err on the side of caution and avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice consumption if you’re taking a medication it might interact with. Alternatives to grapefruitMost kinds of fruit and fruit juices don’t interact with medications, so it’s fine to eat other types of citrus fruits, berries, apples, bananas, melon, and more. The exception is if you’re taking warfarin (a type of blood thinner) which might interact with cranberry juice. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist if there are any potential food/drug interactions when you start a new medication. What other food and drinks can interact with my medication?Drugs in the class called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) help to treat depression. Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that breaks down tyramine, an amino acid byproduct that helps regulate blood pressure. Eating foods high in tyramine while taking MAOIs might result in high tyramine levels and cause dangerous blood pressure spikes. Foods high in tyramine include strong/aged cheeses like gorgonzola and Camembert, cured meats like summer sausage, pickled and fermented foods, and soybeans. There are thousands of drugs available so it’s impossible to summarize all of the potential food and drug interactions. Your pharmacist will instruct you on any potential interactions when you start a new medication. You can also refer to the safety pamphlet that comes with your prescription medication. ConclusionGrapefruit and grapefruit juice are known to interact with several medications. If you’re taking a medication known to interact with grapefruit, it’s best to avoid grapefruit or ask your healthcare provider if there is a medication with a similar effect that doesn’t interact with grapefruit. Next Up17 Foods that Boost Your Immune System. Sources
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