Why Should You Avoid Grapefruit When Taking Certain Medications?

 

Learn why grapefruit can interact with some medications and what you can do to avoid this. Find out how to use an app to check medication interaction.

Grapefruit is a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be part of a healthy diet. 

However, if you take certain medications, you may need to be careful about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. 

That’s because grapefruit can interfere with how some drugs work in your body, causing serious problems.

In this article, you will learn:

• How grapefruit interacts with some medications and what are the consequences
• What types of medications are affected by grapefruit and how to identify them
• How to use an app to check medication interaction with grapefruit and other foods
• How to prevent grapefruit-medication interactions and what are the alternatives

How Grapefruit Interacts with Some Medications and What Are the Consequences?

Grapefruit contains chemicals called furanocoumarins that can block an enzyme called CYP3A4 in your intestine. 

This enzyme is responsible for breaking down (metabolizing) many drugs before they enter your bloodstream. 

When grapefruit inhibits this enzyme, more of the drug stays in your body for longer, increasing its effects and side effects.

For example, if you drink a lot of grapefruit juice while taking certain statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as 

• simvastatin or 
• atorvastatin, 

you may have higher levels of the drug in your blood and more risk of liver and muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure.

The interaction between grapefruit and some medications is strongest when you consume them together or within a few hours of each other. 

The effect can last for up to 72 hours because grapefruit damages the enzyme irreversibly. 

This means that even if you stop eating grapefruit, the interaction may persist until your body makes new enzymes.

The severity of the interaction can vary depending on the person, the drug, and the amount of grapefruit consumed. 

Some people have more or less of the CYP3A4 enzyme in their intestine, which can affect how they react to grapefruit. 

Some drugs are more or less dependent on this enzyme for their metabolism, which can affect how much they interact with grapefruit. 

Some grapefruit products have more or less furanocoumarins, which can affect how much they inhibit the enzyme.

The consequences of grapefruit-medication interactions can range from mild to life-threatening. Some common symptoms include:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Headache, dizziness, or confusion
• Irregular heartbeat or chest pain
• Bleeding or bruising easily
• Allergic reactions or rashes
• Changes in mood or behavior

If you experience any of these symptoms while taking a medication that interacts with grapefruit, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

What Types of Medications Are Affected by Grapefruit and How to Identify Them

Grapefruit can interact with many types of medications that are taken by mouth. Some examples are:

• Statins: drugs that lower cholesterol, such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, and pitavastatin
• Calcium channel blockers: drugs that treat high blood pressure and heart problems, such as nifedipine, amlodipine, verapamil, and diltiazem
• Immunosuppressants: drugs that prevent organ rejection after transplantation, such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and sirolimus
• Antianxiety drugs: drugs that treat anxiety disorders, such as buspirone and alprazolam
• Corticosteroids: drugs that treat inflammatory conditions, such as budesonide and prednisone
• Antiarrhythmics: drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as amiodarone and quinidine
• Antihistamines: drugs that treat allergies, such as fexofenadine and loratadine
• Erectile dysfunction drugs: drugs that treat impotence, such as sildenafil and tadalafil
• Hormone replacement therapy: drugs that contain estrogen or progesterone, such as oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy
• Antitussives: drugs that suppress coughing, such as dextromethorphan
• Opioids: drugs that relieve pain, such as oxycodone and fentanyl
• Anticancer drugs: drugs that treat various types of cancer, such as erlotinib and dasatinib

This is not a complete list of all the medications that can interact with grapefruit. To find out if your medication is affected by grapefruit, you can:

• Read the label and the information leaflet that comes with your medication. Look for warnings about grapefruit or other citrus fruits, such as pomelos, tangelos, and Seville oranges, which can have similar effects.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your medication can interact with grapefruit and how to avoid it. They may suggest a different medication, a different dose, or a different time of taking it.
• Use an app to check medication interaction with grapefruit and other foods.

How to Use an App to Check Medication Interaction with Grapefruit and Other Foods?

An app to check medication interaction with grapefruit and other foods can be a useful tool to help you prevent harmful interactions. 

There are many apps available for different devices and platforms that can provide you with information about your medications and their interactions with foods, supplements, herbs, and other drugs.

One example of such an app is Medscape. Medscape is a free app that offers clinical information and tools for health care professionals and consumers. 

You can use Medscape to:

• Look up information about your medications, such as their uses, dosages, side effects, warnings, and interactions
• Check for potential interactions between your medications and grapefruit or other foods, supplements, herbs, and drugs
• Save your medications in a personal list for easy access and reference
• Set reminders to take your medications on time
• Access news, articles, videos, and podcasts on various health topics

To use Medscape to check for grapefruit-medication interactions, you can follow these steps:

• Download the app from the App Store or Google Play and create a free account
• Tap on the Drug Interaction Checker icon on the home screen
• Tap on the Add Drugs button and search for your medications by name or category
• Tap on the Add Foods button and search for grapefruit or other foods that you want to check
• Tap on the Check Interactions button to see the results
• Tap on any interaction to see more details, such as the mechanism, severity, management, and references.