Question 1

hi doctor, can i know the risks of grapefruit for drug interaction and death ? i need a detailed answer plz

Accepted Answer

Dangerous increases: Grapefruit drug interactions are very common.  In the past few years the number of drugs that can lead to fatal interactions with grapefruit has more than doubled. Not only grapefruit but other fruits (limes, pomelos, other citrus fruits) contain a class of chemicals that block the normal rate of breakdown of drugs leading to toxic levels.  The chemicals are “furanocoumarins”  and they block an enzyme that breaks down drugs in the gut, limiting the amount absorbed, and the activity of this enzyme is taken into account when dosing these medications.  When inactivated by the furanocoumarims, it is not possible to predict what doses are required to produce a therapeutic effect.  Nor is it possible to time the  consumption of the fruit to prevent this adverse effect.  For example, grapefruit juice taken as long as 7-8 hours before a medication can still block the breakdown of the medication. Some reactions that can occur as a result are fatal abnormalities of rhythm leading to sudden cardiac death, muscle destruction (rhabdomyolysis) leading to damage to the kidneys and liver.  The impact of grapefruit on drug levels is limited to drugs taken orally as the enzyme involved is a gut enzyme.

Question 2

should i worry about drug interaction if i take paracetamol 24 hours after eating grapefruit ?

Accepted Answer

No: It should be fine to take it.

Question 3

can grapefruit affect medications?

Accepted Answer

Grapefruit Juice: may interact with a # of meds to include:  Dexedrine, Adderall, Desoxyn, Ritalin,  Halcion, Versed, Mogodon,  Norvir, Zoloft, Lustral, Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, Buspar, Levothyroxine,Xanax, Doral, Valium, Verapamil, Prandon, Luvox, Codiene, Seroquel, Serzone, Oxycodone,  dextromethorphan, Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, (vardenafil) Trazodone, Tegretol, cisapride, etc. Ask your pharmacist for more info.

Question 4

what medications does grapefruit interfere with?

Accepted Answer

Long list: Here's a good place to start. Make sure you also click on the link for an additional list. Good luck. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/11/26/grapefruit-medicine-interaction-warning-expanded/.

Question 5

which medications are not compatible with grapefruit?

Accepted Answer

Many meds: Grapefruit affects the absorption of many meds especially the statins for cholesterol, some BP and cardiac meds, seizure meds, antibiotics among other medscheck with your doctor  to see if it affects the meds yo are on.

Question 6

could eating grapefruit interfere with certain medications?

Accepted Answer

Grapefruit juice : may interact with a # of meds to include:  Dexedrine, Adderall, Desoxyn, Ritalin,  Halcion, Versed, Mogodon,  Norvir, Zoloft, Lustral, Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, Buspar, Levothyroxine,Xanax, Doral, Valium, Verapamil, Prandon, Luvox, Codiene, Seroquel, Serzone, Oxycodone,  dextromethorphan, Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, (vardenafil) Trazodone, Tegretol, cisapride, etc. Ask your pharmacist for more info.

Question 7

what cholestrol medication can i take and eat grapefruit?

Accepted Answer

Interaction : All statins have interaction with grapefruit due to enzyme pathways in liver.  Eating small amounts of grapefruit is not usually a big deal but would avoid grapefruit juice.

Question 8

what is in grapefruit that can react with medication (cholesterol)?

Accepted Answer

Inhibits breakdown: Grapefruit juice contains molecules that compete with certain liver enzymes called cytochromes important in breaking down some cholesterol medicines. So grapefruit juice can cause certain statin medicine levels to build up too high in the body.

Question 9

can you tell me what is in grapefruit that makes react with medication (cholesterol)?

Accepted Answer

Furanocoumarins: We only got this sorted out in 2006 after knowing about the effect for over a decade. There's a strain of grapefruit that is free of these that you can probably get nowadays.

Question 10

can i eat grapefruit with medication?

Accepted Answer

Usually but...: Grapefruit can interfere with some medications. It is best to wait a few hours between eating grapefruit and taking meds.

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Doctor answers about:

Grapefruit medication interactions

A member asked:

Hi doctor, can i know the risks of grapefruit for drug interaction and death ? i need a detailed answer plz

A member asked:

Should i worry about drug interaction if i take paracetamol 24 hours after eating grapefruit ?

A member asked:

Can grapefruit affect medications?

A member asked:

What medications does grapefruit interfere with?

A member asked:

Which medications are not compatible with grapefruit?

A member asked:

Could eating grapefruit interfere with certain medications?

A member asked:

What cholestrol medication can i take and eat grapefruit?

A member asked:

What is in grapefruit that can react with medication (cholesterol)?

A member asked:

Can you tell me what is in grapefruit that makes react with medication (cholesterol)?

A member asked:

Can i eat grapefruit with medication?

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