Grapefruit causes adverse reactions with a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications, including heart medications. The heart medication Toprol does not appear to produce unwanted side effects when combined with grapefruit. If you take any other medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions before adding grapefruit to your diet.
Beta Blocker
The Toprol XL information label approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2010 does not include a warning about combining Toprol, known genericallly as metroprolol succinate, with grapefruit. Toprol does not belong to the group of heart medications known to react adversely with grapefruit. Toprol is classified as a beta blocker, which means it blocks your epinephrine hormone. Epinephrine is another term for adrenaline. The blocking of your body's ability to create adrenaline forces your heart to beat slower, which reduces your blood pressure. Beta blockers can also help increase your circulation by widening your blood vessels. Toprol is prescribed to treat high blood pressure and angina.
Heart Medications Affected by Grapefruit
Grapefruit does react negatively with many medications, including some drugs to treat or prevent heart disease. Calcium channel channel blockers used to treat hypertension -- high blood pressure -- and angina -- chest pains -- can become dangerous when mixed with grapefruit. The calcium channel blockers nifedipine and felodipine are known to interact poorly with grapefruit. Statins, used to treat high cholesterol, also interact adversely with grapefruit. Do not combine the statins lovastatin, atorvastatin and simvastatin with grapefruit. Grapefruit combined with the heart medications amiodarone and quinidine may cause unwanted side effects.
More Medications Affected by Grapefruit
Some medications can become dangerous when combined with grapefruit because grapefruit stops your CYP34A enzyme from metabolizing drugs. This means that medications may build up in your system, intensifying side effects. Combining grapefruit with some medications can prove serious, even fatal. Some oral contraceptives, antihistamines, antidepressants and medications to treat impotence react negatively with grapefruit. The list of medications known to interact poorly with grapefruit is long and may change. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any concerns, but do not stop taking Toprol without a doctor's advice or supervision. People who abruptly stop taking Toprol increase their risk of heart attacks, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Grapefruit Heart Benefits
Grapefruit earned a "heart check" from the American Heart Association due to its healthy and nutritious contents, including potassium, vitamin C and fiber. A 2006 study by Shela Gorinstein of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem showed that grapefruit -- particularly red grapefruit -- can lower your triglycerides. The study, published in the "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry," followed 57 men and women with high blood pressure for a course of 30 days as they ate grapefruit. All study participants experienced a reduction in their triglyceride levels, a type of fat that can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. Grapefruit makes a heart-healthy diet choice unless combined with medications that react negatively with the fruit.
References
- The People's Pharmacy; Graedons' Guide to Grapefruit Interactions; 2002
- Mayo Clinic; Beta Blockers; Dec. 16 2010
- The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Grapefruit and Medication: A Cautionary Note; Feb. 2006
- "The New York Times"; Experts Reveal the Secret Powers of Grapefruit Juice; Nicholas Bakalar; March 21 2006
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Red Grapefruit Positively Influences Serium Triglyceride Level in Patients Suffering From Coronary Atherosclerosis: Studies in Vitro and in Humans; Shela Gorinstein et al; March 2006
- Access Data, Food and Drug Administration; Toprol XL Label; Mar. 19, 2010
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