Medication and grapefruit juice: A dangerous combination?

Despite its general health benefits, grapefruit juice has long been a bit of a bogeyman to those who take certain prescription medications – but the list of drugs the morning drink can negatively affect may be longer than you think.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many drugs are broken down with the help of the enzyme CYP3A4 in the small intestine. The grapefruit juice can interfere with the enzyme, so instead of being metabolized, more of the drug enters the bloodstream and can stay in the body longer, leading to too much of the drug in your system.

Megan Corrigan, pharmacy director at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill., says increased or decreased drug levels can lead to unwanted side effects or less effective treatment.

However, the exact effects of this interaction with particular drugs or in certain patients can be difficult to generalize, Corrigan says, as each person and instance is different.

“The interaction will always be present with certain drugs, but some side effects might be intolerable by some, or the drug levels may negatively impact the desired outcome of the drug,” she says. “This shouldn’t be taken lightly either, as serious side effects could occur.”

Other items to potentially avoid when on certain prescription medications include some herbal and over-the-counter substances, alcohol, caffeine, dairy and other calcium-containing products. Patients should also be sure to know whether they are supposed to take their medicine on a full or empty stomach to ensure proper absorption.

The only reliable way to get an idea of whether your medications could react poorly to something is to be open and honest with your doctor and speak to a pharmacist, Corrigan says.

“They are the drug experts and would be happy to check interactions of medications,” she says. “Avoid searching the internet to answer your medical questions, as it is full of incorrect information from non-reputable sources.”

Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems with, per the FDA:

• Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine)
• Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Sandimmune and Neoral (both cyclosporine)
• Some anti-anxiety drugs, such as buspirone
• Some corticosteroids that treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, such as Entocort EC and Uceris (both budesonide)
• Some drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as Pacerone and Nexterone (both amiodarone)
• Some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine)

Do you have questions about your medication? Schedule an appointment with a doctor in Illinois or Wisconsin.