The medical and scientific community recognized the potential negative interaction between grapefruit juice and certain medications years ago. While side effects of interactions between grapefruit and medications for depression, pain and high blood pressure are relatively mild, grapefruit and cholesterol medication interactions can prove deadly. It is important to understand the risks when taking cholesterol drugs of any kind.
Medication Breakdown
Cytochrompe P-450 3A4 is an enzyme that breaks down both grapefruit juice and many medications. When you ingest grapefruit juice with certain medications, the liver may be so busy breaking the juice down that it does not have time to work on the medication.
A Deadly Combination
When the liver enzyme spends its time working on grapefruit and not on ingested cholesterol medication, high drug levels can remain in the body and lead to rhabdomyloysis. Rhabdomyolysis occurs when muscle fibers begin to break down and release a protein called myoglobin into the bloodstream. If a medical professional does not take rapid action, this condition can lead to muscle destruction, kidney failure and death.
FDA Warnings
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires all medications that interact with liver enzymes to be tested with grapefruit juice. If applicable, the FDA requires drug manufacturers to include a warning about grapefruits under the heading of "food-drug interactions."
Next Steps
Before taking prescribed cholesterol medication, be sure to read its labels and warnings carefully. If the label includes a grapefruit warning, you must stop eating them or drinking grapefruit juice and consult with your doctor immediately. In some cases, your doctor may switch your medication, or advise you to stop eating or drinking grapefruit products.
