The Potential Risk of Grapefruit Juice

Citrus fruits are considered to be very healthy, thanks to their high vitamin C content as well as the many minerals and other nutrients they contain. However, ingesting grapefruit juice can lead to severe poisoning when mixed with certain substances. A variety of medical studies in recent years found that combining grapefruit juice with certain medications can lead to an overdose. This article will discuss the reasons for these results, and list the medications you absolutely cannot mix with grapefruit.

The Grapefruit/Medication Connection 

The human body produces an enzyme called CYO3A4 that, amongst other things, helps break down certain chemicals before they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Grapefruits contain a chemical that inhibits the CYO3A4 enzyme’s functions, which leads to more of the medication being absorbed into the bloodstream. When the level of medication in the blood is too high, you enter a state of overdose, which can lead to exacerbated side-effects and even poisoning. 

 

 

 

Other Citrus Fruits 

The inhibiting chemical in grapefruit can also be found in other citrus fruits, such as pomelo, limes, and bitter oranges (a type of orange that is very bitter and is mainly used in jams). It’s important to mention that other species of oranges, as well as lemons - are safe to ingest, as they don’t contain the aforementioned chemical. 

 

 

 

Potential Severity of Reactions 

It’s difficult to predict the severity of reaction grapefruit juice will have on one's body, as it can be affected by many variables. Different juices contain different levels of the inhibiting chemical, meaning that each type of juice can have a different level of effect. Additionally, the quantity of juice consumed can have a drastically varied effect according to one's weight.

Medications that Should Not Be Taken with Grapefruit Juice:

There are currently more than 85 different medications that should not be taken with grapefruit juice, and new drugs join the list every year. The following list shows the drugs that pose the most danger when taken with Grapefruit:

                                   Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Medication

Generic name                                               Commercial names 

Amlodipine                                                        Norvasc

 

Amiodarone                                             Procor, Amiodacore, Amiocor 

 

Felodipine                                                          Logimax, Penedil 

 

Nifedipine                                             Osmo-Adalat, Nifedipine-Teva, Pressolat, Megalat 

 

Nimodipine                                                          Nimotop 

 

Quinidin                                                          Quiniduran 

 

Verapamil                                             Verapress, Apoacor, Ikacor, Ikapress, Veracor

                                            Lipid Lowering Medication

Generic name                                                           Commercial names

Atorvastatin                                                                   Lipitor 

 

Lovastatin                                                                 Lovalip 

 

Simvastatin                                                             Simovil, Simvacor, Simvastatin-Teva

                                             Tranquilizers and Psychiatric Medication

Generic name                                                              Commercial names

Buspirone                                                          Buspirol, Sorbon 

 

Clomipramine                                                Anafranil, Maronil 

 

Diazepam                                                     Assival, Diaz, Valium 

 

Midazolam                                                Dormicum, Midazol, Midazolam 

 

Pimozide                                                               Orap Forte 

 

Sertraline                                                                      Lustral

                                             Other (Immunosuppressants, antihistamines, etc.)

Generic name                                                 Commercial names

Carbamazepine                                              Carbi, Tegretol, Teril, Timonil 

 

 Cisapride                                                              Prepulsid 

 

 Cyclosporine                                                Sangcya, Sandimmun, Deximune 

 

 Itraconazole                                                        Sporanox 

 

Squinavir                                                   Invirase, Fortovase 

 

Sirolimus                                                           Rapamune 

 

Tacrolimus                                                                  Prograf

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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