Health
Doctors warn of the dangers of mixing a range of drugs with a seemingly harmless product like grapefruit.
This fruit can overdose on certain drugs, preventing the drug from breaking down in the intestines and liver.
Canadian experts from the Lawrence Health Research Institute, who found the link, said that the number of drugs that had serious side effects when consumed grapefruit, increased from 17 in 2008 to 43 in 2012. This includes drugs for hypertension, cancer, statins to lower cholesterol, and those taken to suppress the immune system after organ transplants.
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The hazardous properties of grapefruit The
chemicals in grapefruit furanocoumarins wash away enzymes that break down the drug. This results in the drug not being metabolized in the intestines, but larger amounts are released into the bloodstream.
One tablet taken with grapefruit juice is like 5-10 tablets taken with a glass of water.
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Of the 84 known drugs that interact with grapefruit, 43 may have serious side effects, including sudden death, acute kidney failure, respiratory arrest, gastrointestinal bleeding and bone marrow suppression in people with weakened immune systems.
In addition to grapefruit and grapefruit juice, other citrus products, such as orange, often used in marmalade, lime, and pomelo can be dangerous when taken with medication.
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interactions with grapefruit: what should not be mixed?
It is worth remembering that the effect of grapefruit can remain for 24 hours, so people taking certain medications should stop consuming it during treatment or ask a doctor about alternative drugs.
Here are medications you SHOULD NOT take with grapefruit:
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Statins (to lower cholesterol): lovastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, ezetimibe/ simvastatin
Antihistamines: fexofenadine, terfenadine
Calcium antagonists (for lowering blood pressure): nimodipine, felodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil
Drugs for the treatment of psychiatric disorders: buspirone, triazolam, carbamazepine, diazepam, midazolam, sertraline
Gastrointestinal drugs: cisapride
Immunosuppressive drugs: cyclosporine, tacrolimus
Pain relievers: methadone
Erectile dysfunction drugs: sildenafil (Viagra)
Antiretroviral drugs (for HIV) :saquinavir
Antiarrhythmic drugs: amiodarone, disopyramide