Grapefruit and Medication

Taking your medication with a glass of juice seems harmless enough. So it may come as a surprise to you that fruit juice and medication is not always a good mix. A recent study conducted by Dr. David Bailey, with the University of Western Ontario shows that grapefruit juice can affect the performance of some medications. It was observed that grapefruit juice interferes with the absorption of certain drugs and reduces their efficacy. These findings are significant as grapefruit juice is a breakfast drink favored by many of us. A juice that is otherwise very healthy could unknowingly cause an undesirable effect when combined with some medications.

There is quite a list of medicines that don't go well with grapefruit. Antibiotics, beta blockers, cholesterol lowering drugs, birth control pills, anti-histamines, certain psychiatric medications, and anti-cancer medicines are among the drugs affected. Case in point: in the latest study researchers discovered that when hay-fever pills are taken with grapefruit juice a compound present in the juice impedes the passage of the drug from the small intestine into the bloodstream. Grapefruit whether eaten as a fruit or taken in juice form is also well known for its interaction with blood pressure medication. The way grapefruit reacts with blood pressure medication is different in that it hinders an enzyme that metabolizes the drug. Consequently the level of the medicine in the blood rises significantly, going over the recommended dosage. This can result in side effects some of which can be quite serious.

The problems caused by the interaction between grapefruit and medication vary with the drug that you have been taking. Thus birth control pills may not work as well increasing the chance of pregnancy, or an antibiotic when taken with grapefruit juice can cause diarrhea. Some people are more likely to suffer grapefruit induced side effects than others.

Considering the many medications that have been found to interact with grapefruit juice, I believe it is safer to go with plain water when you need to take a pill. However if you particularly enjoy the taste of grapefruit, it is a good idea to check with your doctor whether it is likely to interfere with the prescribed medication. Generally, different medications can be used to treat a health condition and of the several medicines available in a given drug class, not all react negatively with grapefruit. Your doctor could recommend an alternative medication that does not interact dangerously with the fruit.