The Goodness in Grapefruit
Grapefruits are low in calories and full of benefits. One cup of fresh grapefruit is a large serving of vitamin C. It has other important nutrients too—like
vitamin A,
folate, and lycopene.
It is hard to believe that grapefruit can cause harm when mixed with certain medicines.
How the Grapefruit/Drug Interaction Works
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can both cause interactions. They disrupt the way the body uses certain drugs. The disruption can cause higher levels of drugs to enter the bloodstream. This can happen within a few hours of consuming grapefruit. Some other citrus fruits can cause similar effects. This includes pomelos and Seville oranges.
Which Drugs Are Affected?
Examples of medicines that can be affected by grapefruit are:
- Calcium channel blockers—used to treat high blood pressure or reduce angina symptoms
- Antiarrhythmics—used to treat heart rhythm problems
- Immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine—prevents organ transplant rejection
- Certain statins—used to treat high cholesterol
- Some anxiety medicines
- Certain corticosteroids—to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease
- Some antihistamines—often used to treat allergies
Should You Give Up Grapefruit?
What if you love grapefruit? If you take any medicines, talk to your doctor. Ask about interactions with grapefruit. If there is a risk, the doctor may be able to prescribe medicine that is not a risk.
RESOURCES
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.familydoctor.org
US Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Pharmacists Association http://www.pharmacists.ca
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
References
Grapefruit juice and some drugs don't mix. U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/grapefruit-juice-and-some-drugs-dont-mix . Accessed October 22, 2021.
How grapefruit interacts with certain drugs: drug-food interactions. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/drug-food-interactions-how-grapefruit-interacts-with-certain-drugs. Accessed October 22, 2021.
Verapamil. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/drug-monograph/verapamil. Accessed October 22, 2021.