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Beware
Grapefruit Juice Interaction With Prescription Medications
Several months ago we did a television
program about the adverse effects of grapefruit juice
on prescription medication. Letters and questions
about this subject are still coming in to our office.
Because it is a relatively new discovery and interest
is so high, I want to review it for you.
Many patients have been rushed to the emergency room
simply because they consumed common grapefruit juice
with their medication. Without getting into a lot
of the detailed chemistry, the fact is that grapefruit
juice inhibits an enzyme known as P-450 that occurs
in the intestinal area.
The bottom line: consuming grapefruit
juice with certain medications can markedly elevate
the blood level of the medicine. That's where patients
get into trouble. Bear in mind that consumption of
as little as one glass of grapefruit juice can cause
the interaction.
Now, which medicines can cause problems
with grapefruit juice? Leading the list are the calcium
channel blockers that are prescribed for heart problems
and the treatment of blood pressure. There are many
different kinds of calcium channel blockers, and if
you are taking one of them, you should ask your doctor
or his or her nurse how your prescribed medication
interacts with grapefruit juice.
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