You may have heard media reports concerning dangerous interactions between grapefruit juice and prescription drugs. The actual number of prescription medications that can interact with grapefruit juice is relatively small, according to the University of Florida. Before you throw out that grapefruit juice, check with your doctor to find out if any of your medications may be subject to this interaction.
Drug Metabolism
The interaction with grapefruit juice is due to the way your body processes drugs. When prescription medications enter your body, they begin to be metabolized, or broken down, by enzymes produced by cells. Different drugs are broken down by different enzymes, particularly enzymes of the cytochrome P450 oxidase family, or CYP. Grapefruit juice inhibits the activity of a specific enzyme in the CYP family known as CYP3A4.
Grapefruit Juice and Metabolism
When grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4 activity, the drugs that are normally broken down by CYP3A4 stay in the body for longer than normal. When these drugs stay in the body for longer than normal, they can cause serious side effects, explains the MayoClinic.com. One 8-oz. glass of grapefruit juice is enough to cause noticeable effects, the University of Illinois at Chicago reports. The inhibitory effect of grapefruit juice can last for over 24 hours, so taking medications at a different time than grapefruit juice will not prevent the interaction.
Medications Affected
All medications that may interact with grapefruit juice will have a warning on their label. If you are unsure, you can ask a pharmacist or doctor if the medication is safe to take with grapefruit juice. Some of the medications affected include statins, cyclosporine, sertraline, sold as Zoloft, buspirone, amiodarone and some antiviral drugs prescribed for HIV. Practically all over-the-counter medications are safe to take with grapefruit juice, according to the University of Florida.
Alternatives
If you are a big fan of grapefruit juice and your doctor prescribes a medication that interacts with it, you might ask your doctor if alternate drugs are available that have the same effect, advises the University of Florida. Some medications that interact with grapefruit juice can be replaced with similar ones that don't.
Member Comments