![]() ![]() To learn more about cholesterol and heart disease, read Managing Your Cholesterol, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Q: Ive heard that people shouldnt drink grapefruit juice if theyre taking a statin. Grapefruit juice contains chemicals that can cause problems with enzymes that break down certain types of medicines in your intestines. This interaction enhances systemic drug concentration through impaired drug metabolism. Sour oranges, such as Seville, or their juice, may have an effect similar to grapefruit juice. 1 3 Currently, more than 85 drugs, most of which are available in Canada, are known or predicted to interact with grapefruit. Angina Anxiety Cancer Convulsions Depression Erectile dysfunction Gastrointestinal reflux High blood pressure High lipid (cholesterol) levels HIV /AIDS Infections Irregular heart rhythms Organ graft rejections and Psychotic problems. Grapefruit juice affects certain statins more than others. Our research group discovered the interaction between grapefruit and certain medications more than 20 years ago. But to be on the safe side, check with your doctor, and avoid taking your pills with grapefruit juice. What's more, eating half a grapefruit is even less risky than drinking grapefruit juice, since it takes several fruits to make a single glass of juice. That's because the studies showing dangerous effects used massive amounts of furanocoumarins, the amount found in a quart or more of the juice. But if you can't switch, experts say it's probably okay to enjoy a small glass. The reductions in PR and QT c intervals caused by amiodarone were also diminished. Not all statins are affected equally by grapefruit juice, so grapefruit fans might want to switch to a statin that's less affected (see the table below). A study of 11 healthy volunteers showed that grapefruit juice inhibited the production of N-desmethylamiodarone (the major metabolite of amiodarone) and significantly increased the AUC and Cmax of amiodarone. Both are used to ease signs and symptoms of ailments, however each drug has its own purpose. As a result, more of the drug is absorbed, making it more powerful than it's meant to be - even toxic in some cases. 27 July, 2017 Fact Checked Anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistamines are drugs that can be obtained over-the-counter and by prescription. Grapefruit juice contains compounds called furanocoumarins that stop CYP3A from doing its job. Learn about its possible interactions with alcohol, other drugs, and more. Why?Ī: Certain classes of drugs - most notably statins - are metabolized (broken down) in your intestines by an enzyme called CYP3A, which normally reduces the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream. Epidiolex is a prescription drug used to manage seizures caused by certain conditions. Q: I've heard that people shouldn't drink grapefruit juice if they're taking a statin. ![]()
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