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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Grapefruit & medication interaction
        
(Message started by: Bob_Johnson on Jan 19^th, 2005, 8:13am)

Title: Grapefruit & medication interaction
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 19^th, 2005, 8:13am

NOTE: Verapamil on this list ! The basic issue: the mix of juice and certain meds can increase the level of the med in our body to a problem/dangerous level.

"Interactions between grapefruit juice and medications have long been recognized. Last year, the Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics devoted an entire issue to grapefruit juice and the dangerous drug interactions that can result. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration requires all prospective new drugs to be tested for interactions with grapefruit juice. And a warning about grapefruit juice is included in the "food-drug interactions" that come with dozens of medications. Nevertheless, Karch says many health-care professionals and patients don't know about the risk."

Drugs that Interact with Grapefruit Juice:
(from the December 2004 issue of the American Journal of Nursing)

Antibiotics: clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin
Anxiolytics: alprazolam, buspirone, midazolam, triazolam
Antiarrhythmics: amiodarone, quinidine
Anticoagulant: warfarin
Antiepileptic: carbamazepine
Antifungal: itraconazole
Anthelmintic: albendazole
Antihistamine: fexofenadine
Antineoplastics: cyclophosphamide, etoposide, ifosfamide, tamoxifen, vinblastine, vincristine
Antitussive: dextromethorphan
Antivirals: amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir
Benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment: finasteride
â-blockers: carvedilol
Calcium channel blockers: diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil
Erectile dysfunction drugs: sildenafil, tadalafil
Hormone replacement: cortisol, estradiol, methylprednisolone, progesterone, testosterone
Immunosuppressants: cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin
Opioids: alfentanil, fentanyl, sufentanil
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: fluvoxamine, sertraline
Xanthine: theophylline

Title: Re: Grapefruit & medication interaction
Post by JoeS on Jan 19^th, 2005, 10:40am

Wow, that is great info. I knew about the verapamil interaction, but had no idea about the other drugs.

Does anyone know what specific substance in grapefruit causes this interaction? It makes me wonder about other fruits since I'm a smoothie junkie......

Title: Re: Grapefruit & medication interaction
Post by JoeS on Jan 19^th, 2005, 10:43am

OK, answered my own question. The FAQ on this page has all the gory details:

http://www.powernetdesign.com/grapefruit