Hepatitis C is a type of liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. Although some people can clear the virus from their bodies without medical assistance, most cannot. Treatment for hepatitis C includes medication that helps reduce the replication of the virus and its damage to your liver. Ribavirin USP is one of the medications used to treat hepatitis C. While grapefruit juice does interact with a number of different types of medications, it does not appear to affect ribavirin USP.
Ribavirin USP
Ribavirin USP is a nucleoside analogue, which is an antiviral drug that works by inhibiting the replication of a virus. Ribavirin USP is an oral medication taken twice a day. According to the pharmaceutical company Kadmon, ribavirin USP is not effective at treating hepatitis C by itself. Ribavirin USP is usually prescribed with other medications to help treat the viral infection. Ribavirin USP is a serious medication and should only be taken under the guidance and direction of your physician.
Grapefruit Juice and Medication
Grapefruit juice may seem like a healthy choice to take with your morning medication, but a substance in the juice can seriously affect the way a number of medications work. The chemical substance in grapefruit juice interferes with the enzyme that metabolizes certain medications in your digestive tract. In turn, this increases the amount of the medication in your body, causing dangerously high blood levels of the medication and serious side effects. You should consult your doctor or pharmacist about whether it is safe to drink grapefruit juice with your medications. Some medications affected by grapefruit juice include Zoloft, Buspar, Allegra and Lipitor.
Ribavirin and Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice does not appear to affect the metabolism of ribavirin USP, according to Drugs.com and the pharmaceutical company Kadmon. However, you should consult your physician before mixing the two.
Consideration
Antacids may decrease the availability of ribavirin by 14 percent, according to Drugs.com. It is important to discuss with your doctor when and how you should take your medication. In clinical trials, ribavirin USP was taken with food.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; What I Need to Know About Hepatitis C; April 2009
- Drugs.com: Ribavirin USP
- MayoClinic.com; Grapefruit Juice: Beware of Dangerous Medication Interactions; Katherine Zeratsky,R.D., L.D.; November 2010
- Kadmon: Ribasphere RibaPak (Ribavirin, USP) Tablets
- Medical Dictionary: Nucleoside Analogue
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