Grapefruit is a sweet and tangy citrus fruit related to lemons, limes and oranges. It comes in red, pink and white varieties and the flesh can be eaten or made into juice. Grapefruit contains certain compounds called furanocoumarins that change how your body metabolizes drugs, so be sure to speak with your doctor about eating grapefruit if you are on any type of medication.
Xanax
Xanax is a benzodiazepine that is prescribed as a drug to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It also goes by the generic name alprazolam. Information published by PubMed Health says it works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. It's given as a tablet, dissolving tablet or liquid. It's habit forming, so your doctor must help you determine the correct dosage for you.
Xanax and Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains chemicals that bind to an enzyme in your intestinal tract called cytochrome P450 3A4. Normally this enzyme reduces absorption of some medications, but when the chemicals in grapefruit bind with it, larger amounts of the medications are absorbed into the bloodstream. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, one serving of grapefruit juice reduces almost half of the cytochrome P450 3A4, and the effect takes up to 24 hours to wear off.
Other Xanax Interactions
Xanax can also interact with alcohol and many prescription medications. Drugs.com says it can interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, diltiazem, isoniazid, propoxyphene, seizure medication, anti-fungal medications and anti-depressants. Your doctor needs to know if you consume alcohol or grapefruit and if you are taking any medications, including over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
Grapefruit and Other Medications
The furanocoumarin in grapefruit affects several categories of medications, including calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure, statins that lower cholesterol, immunosuppressants necessary for patients who have organ transplants, and the benzodiazepines and other neurological and psychiatric medications. Always tell your doctor whether you eat grapefruit if you take any of these medications.
