Can you have grapefruit whilst on medication?

Answer 1

depends on the medication....some medications have contraindications for grapefruit.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/947528512.html

Answer 2

Not ad visible to take medication with grapefruit ,if that is what you mean. Take medication wtih plain water. Wait for an hour or two later before you have your grapefruit. And best to check with the doctor if you can take that kind of fruit. For people having a bad cough with flam, doctors only advise to take apple and pear. For other fruits like banana, orange will worsen the condition or make you uncomfortable.

Answer 3

Check with the pharmacist, I know certain medications say not to eat grapefruit whilst taking them. My Mums blood pressure pills carry that warning.

Answer 4

If you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice with some medication it lessons the effects.

Check with your pharmacist or doctor for directions regarding grapefruit.

MOST prescription bottles come with warnings about this.



Grapefruit juice may react with medications, study finds
September 12, 2000
Web posted at: 11:33 AM EDT (1533 GMT)


ROCHESTER, Minnesota (Reuters) -- Drinking grapefruit juice to wash down some prescription medicines may be dangerous because the juice can raise blood concentrations of the drug beyond what the dosage calls for, researchers said on Tuesday.

Unlike other citrus juices, grapefruit juice inhibits one of the body's intestinal enzyme systems and can result in marked increases in serum levels of some prescription drugs, such as those to treat heart disease and control blood pressure.

Interactions between grapefruit juice and certain drugs -- which has been known but not extensively studied -- is particularly worrisome for the elderly who are more likely to take medications and may be inclined to drink calcium-fortified grapefruit juice, Mayo Clinic researchers Garvan Kane and James Lipsky wrote in this month's issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Although some drugs are given with others to enhance their effects, grapefruit juice should not be used for this purpose because its impact can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous, they wrote.

Grapefruit juice does not pose a problem for those receiving medication intravenously, the report said.


Grapefruit Juice and Medications

Q: What's the deal with grapefruit and medications? My doctor recently prescribed a new medication and told me that one of my favorite beverages -- grapefruit juice -- was off limits.



A: There are several chemical processes our bodies use to break down medications. One of the most important is called the cytochrome p450 system. Grapefruit juice slows this system down. This means that those medications dependent on that system are not being processed at the intended rate, possibly resulting in higher blood levels of the drug that are unsafe.

If you are taking any of the "statins" or cholesterol-lowering medications and as well beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers for blood pressure, grapefruit juice is off limits. Some hospitals have even eliminated grapefruit juice as a beverage option to eliminate the risk. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Answer 5

If in doubt don't until you have asked your pharmacist, there are many fruits and foods that should not be taken with medication such as grapefruit due to acid content for example, etc altering the efficiency of the medication, ask the pharmacist

Answer 6

I am on medication for cholesterol and I understand that if I have Grapefruit my tablets will not work as they should do not know why but that's what I have been told

Answer 7

I have heard that grapefruit can affect medications for some reason.
http://www.powernetdesign.com/grapefruit/
http://www.pcwc.ca/grapefruit-juice-medication.html

Answer 8

I know that Grapefruit is contra-indicated for some types of Statin (used to control Cholesterol) so check with your doctor (or Pharmacist) if you are taking a statin.

Answer 9

you cant have grapefruit on blood pressure pills and some contraception pills wont work properly if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice

Answer 10

I don't see why not...
in fact it's good for you as it has lots of vitamin c - unless you are allergic to grapefruits, that is - in which case definatley don't have them ...
hope you get better soon

Answer 11

If you take one of the statins for cholesterol reduction then you shouldn't eat grapefruit.