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Dr Russ Blog - Grapefruit Plus Medication - Bad Idea?
Grapefruit Plus Medication - Bad Idea?
Created on 2/3/2012
E sent in a great question about the safety of taking her cholesterol lowering medication (a statin drug) while also enjoying grapefruit or grapefruit juice during the day. She had heard that there might be reason for concern.
And she is right.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice naturally contain compounds that interfere with the actions of specialized enzymes in the body. These enzymes play an important role in the way various pharmaceutical agents are handled. In most cases, this can mean an increase in both the concentration of and the effects from those medications.
Now, you might think that having more of a prescription drug in your body to help treat an illness could be a good thing, and perhaps if managed very, very carefully in certain instances having a greater effect from that medicine might be beneficial - HOWEVER, having more of a specific drug floating around in the bloodstream might also mean a greater risk for dangerous side effects. Studies are ongoing to identify specific instances where taking a prescription aid and eating grapefruit might be beneficial, but in general it's best to avoid the combination, especially with drugs including, but not limited to:
- Statin drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
- Calcium channel blockers
- Some drugs used to treat people with AIDS
There are other drugs where grapefruit might cause an interaction, so be sure to speak with your doctor if you are taking medication and enjoy grapefruit.
The results of a study recently published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology may help us breathe a little easier when considering this topic - the researchers found that moderate intake of grapefruit juice (a single 10 ounce glass a day) had only a minor impact on the effects of atorvastatin (Lipitor) in the body (a slight increase in the concentration of the drug, with no significant change in cholesterol levels and no detectable increase in side effects). That's good news, but everyone responds differently - it's best to speak with your doctor to determine what might be best, and safest, for you.
Thanks for your question, E - I hope this answer is of help to you and all our readers. Be well.
Dr. Russ
** Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. **
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