Some cholesterol medications called statins are affected by grapefruit. Grapefruit juice, it turns out, can affect some medications. We take a closer look. Even small amounts of grapefruit can interact with some medications and cause serious side effects. However, it can interact with some common medications, altering their effects on your body.

Can I Have Grapefruit While Taking Metformin? Is it safe to have grapefruit and metformin together?

The risks associated with these meds are well studied and small, but have to be balanced against ... Can I take aspirin and ibuprofen at the same time?

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away — Fact or Fiction? Although their blood levels are only slightly affected by small amounts of grapefruit, it may change the length of time they remain in the body (16, 17). If you are currently taking medications with grapefruit interactions, switch to an alternative drug or stop consuming grapefruit. With some drugs, with even small amounts of grapefruit can cause severe side effects. Most Americans who drink grapefruit juice do so for breakfast -- a time of day when many people also take medications. Here is one option (Drugs.Com): https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php Your pharmacist is also an excellent source of information. Alternatives: Morphine and Dilaudid are narcotic pain relievers that are not affected by grapefruit (1). However, the following four blood pressure medications should be used cautiously: The first two medications in this list are known as calcium channel blockers. By slowing the way in which CYPs normally break down medications in your gut and liver, grapefruit can increase the side effects of these drugs (1). In the future, try to take them with food due to the adverse effect on the stomach lining causing heartburn and irritation. Colchicine is an older medication used to treat gout. Learn more about what this may mean for you. A pharmacist can check drug interactions for you. Because antimicrobials are generally taken for a limited time, perhaps it’s easiest to simply avoid grapefruit while taking these medications. Additionally, Rxlist.com lists some less common medications that interact with grapefruit. A pharmacist can check drug interactions for you. Grapefruit influences a few medications that treat abnormal heart rhythms. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. While this article lists 31 common medications that interact with grapefruit, it’s not a complete list. You can use a drug interaction checker whenever you have questions about drug-drug interactions or drug - food interactions. Multiple pain medications are affected by grapefruit: Fentanyl and oxycodone are narcotic pain relievers.

So, talk to your doctor about the possibility of using a different medication if avoiding grapefruit juice is not an option. Alternatives: Warfarin (Coumadin) is used for purposes similar to those of apixaban and rivaroxaban. © 2005 - 2020 WebMD LLC. So you may need to rethink your morning drink. Most antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are safe to use with grapefruit.

There are three things to know to understand if and how you can safely consume grapefruit with these medications. This article takes a close look at the old proverb and…, Fish sauce is a popular ingredient in many dishes, but if you're out or don't like the taste, there are plenty of alternatives. Does it work for weight loss, and is it safe? This can lead to bleeding or less effective prevention of blood clots.

In fact, studies show that they increase the blood levels of over 85 medications (1). Excess levels of this medication can disrupt heart rhythm (11). Drug levels increased by up to 84%, compared with those not drinking the juice (9).

Grapefruit Juice Can Interact With Medicines! Grapefruit also increases levels of the HIV medications rilpivirine and maraviroc, in addition to primaquine-related antimalarial drugs. Furanocoumarins disrupt the normal function of CYPs.

Eating grapefruit while taking the mood-related medications above can result in heart rhythm changes, excessive sleepiness, and other drug-specific effects. Grapefruit juice can cause problems with these enzymes and transporters, causing too much or too little drug in the body.

Grapefruit can increase the side effects of some statin cholesterol medications, causing muscle damage. Grapefruit and a few of its close relatives, such as Seville oranges, tangelos, pomelos, and Minneolas, contain a class of chemicals called furanocoumarins. Increased levels of these drugs can cause heart rhythm changes or sleepiness (1). One study found blood levels of nifedipine increased dramatically when taken with about 2 cups (500 mL) of grapefruit juice, compared with no juice. Blood thinners are used to treat or prevent blood clots. Make sure your doctor and pharmacist know if you regularly consume grapefruit. In addition, oxymorphone Cmax and AUC increased by 32% and 56%, but the metabolite-to-parent AUC ratio remained unchanged. Here are 8 tasty fish…, Pu-erh tea offers a number of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory-based benefits to help improve overall health and well-being. Several blood thinners are affected by grapefruit. Excessive eplerenone levels can cause too much potassium in the blood, which can interfere with heart rhythm (1). Grapefruit increases the blood levels of three common statins substantially, increasing the risk of rhabdomyolysis (4): One study showed that drinking a glass of grapefruit juice with simvastatin or lovastatin increased blood levels of these statins by 260% (5).

Though grapefruit does not interfere with most blood pressure medications, it can cause a few medications to overcorrect blood pressure. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter.

Contrarily, grapefruit increases the blood levels of other medications on this list, which can result in bleeding (14). Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now — wait time is less than 1 minute! As you might imagine, these changes can cause side effects or reduce a drug's effectiveness. With that in mind, here is detailed information about 32 common medications that may interact with grapefruit, categorized by use. Can i take Advil (ibuprofen) 2 hrs after taking aspirin? Most types of blood pressure medicines are not affected by grapefruit. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking these medications can lead to higher levels of them in your blood — and more side effects. One study compared some of these drugs in nine patients, some of whom consumed grapefruit. Men: Is Hypertension Harming Your Sex Life? They can help you decide whether it’s safe to consume it while on certain medications. Some anti-infection medications should not be used with grapefruit, as they can lead to disrupted heart rhythm or function. This leads to muscle weakness, pain, and occasionally kidney damage (3). Tips for Heart-Healthy Living With Diabetes. I'm taking 1 aspirin or ibuprofen almost each day. To learn more, please visit our. Although antimicrobials are one of the most diverse categories of medications, there are only a few medications with known important grapefruit interactions: Erythromycin is used to treat several types of bacterial infections. Don’t drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking any of these medications, unless advised to by your doctor: There are alternatives to many of these drugs. Doxycycline is both an antibiotic and antimalarial drug that also does not interact with it (1). Statins can cause rhabdomyolysis, or the breakdown of muscle tissue. Some narcotic pain relievers persist longer in the blood when taken with grapefruit. Grapefruit interferes with proteins in the small intestine and liver that normally break down many medications. While warfarin is sensitive to foods containing vitamin K, its activation is not affected by grapefruit (15). When you’re starting a new medication, it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor or pharmacist about any potential interactions between the new medication and foods, supplements, or other drugs you’re already taking. The last two medications in this list work by decreasing the activity of a hormone called angiotensin 2, which naturally increases blood pressure. This improves the profile of lipoproteins in the blood and decreases deaths from heart disease in patients at risk of it (2). By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies.

If in doubt, reach out to your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.

Your pharmacy may mark these drugs with a grapefruit interaction warning. So you may need to rethink your morning drink. However, its ability to treat blood clots was not affected (13). However, several mood medications do interact with it, including: Drugs like quetiapine and lurasidone are used to treat mood and behavioral disorders. Furthermore, diazepam, midazolam, and triazolam are sedatives that are sometimes used for panic attacks or other forms of anxiety.

MedicineNet: “Grapefruit Juice Can Interact With Medicines!”.

Drugs.com offers a drug interaction checker that you can use to check your medications for interactions. In the grapefruit diet, people eat grapefruit with almost every meal. Grapefruit has many health benefits but can be dangerous if combined with certain medications. Yes but stronger effect on coagulation and harder on the stomach. Alternatives: Spironolactone (Aldactone), a similar drug to losartan and eplerenone, does not interact with grapefruit. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. CYPs break down medications, reducing the blood levels of many of them.

And also space them about ... Just be aware that ingesting any substance has risks.

How Long Does Coronavirus Live On Surfaces? Grapefruit can affect how fast some drugs — like statins — are absorbed into the bloodstream. A study of 7 patients taking clopidogrel with 200 mL of either grapefruit juice or water showed lower activation of the drug with the juice. Alternatives: Another class of prostate enlargement medications, which includes finasteride and dutasteride, is not significantly affected by grapefruit (19).

The Grapefruit Diet: Does It Work for Weight Loss? Collectively called antimicrobials, these anti-infection medications vary widely in their actions and breakdown in the body. These two medications play a critical role in managing the health of patients with heart rhythm disorders. Should I Avoid Mixing Grapefruit and Statins?

Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a calcium channel blocker like felodipine and nifedipine, which also does not interact with grapefruit (6, 8). Statins work by limiting the natural production of cholesterol. Nevertheless, a 2012 study showed that drinking 240 mL of grapefruit juice only had a minimal effect on its levels (18). Eplerenone works similarly to losartan, but its levels increase when taken with grapefruit.