Mixing Grapefruit And Pills

[Call me bubba]

have read this before and understand the danger or side effects that it can cause,

So i decided to open this "topic" on this subject.

thanks from BBC news for the article

Doctors have warned of a "lack of knowledge" about the dangers of mixing some medications with grapefruit.

The fruit can cause overdoses of some drugs by stopping the medicines being broken down in the intestines and the liver.

The researchers who first identified the link said the number of drugs that became dangerous with grapefruit was increasing rapidly.

They were writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The team at the Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada said the number of drugs which had serious side effects with grapefruit had gone from 17 in 2008 to 43 in 2012.

They include some drugs for a range of conditions including blood pressure, cancer and cholesterol-lowering statins and those taken to suppress the immune system after an organ transplant.

”

Chemicals in grapefruit, furanocoumarins, wipe out an enzyme which breaks the drugs down. It means much more of the drug escapes the digestive system than the body can handle.

Toxic

Three times the levels of one blood pressure drug, felodipine, was reported after patients had a glass of grapefruit juice compared with a glass of water.

The side effects are varied depending on the drug, but include stomach bleeds, altered heart beat, kidney damage and sudden death.

Dr David Bailey, one of the researchers, told the BBC: "One tablet with a glass of grapefruit juice can be like taking five or 10 tablets with a glass of water and people say I don't believe it, but I can show you that scientifically it is sound.

"So you can unintentionally go from a therapeutic level to a toxic level just by consuming grapefruit juice."

The report said: "We contend that there remains a lack of knowledge about this interaction in the general health care community."

They added: "Unless health care professionals are aware of the possibility that the adverse event they are seeing might have an origin in the recent addition of grapefruit to the patient's diet, it is very unlikely that they will investigate it."

Other citrus fruits such as Seville oranges, often used in marmalade, and limes have the same effect.

: "Grapefruit isn't the only food that can cause issues, for example milk can stop the absorption of some antibiotics if taken at the same time.

"Although some of these interactions may not be clinically significant, some may lead to more serious outcomes.

"Pharmacists are the best port of call for anyone concerned about how their diet may affect their medication. Information about any interactions would always be included in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20497086

Medications given by

injection or

transdermally are not

affected by grapefruit

interactions, which

happen primarily in the

digestive tract.

• 
  Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver.
  Grapefruit juice might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking grapefruit, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
  Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
  
• Medications for high blood pressure (Calcium channel blockers) interacts with GRAPEFRUIT
  Grapefruit juice might increase how much medication for high blood pressure the body absorbs. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking some medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
  Some medications for high blood pressure include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others.
  
• Medications used for lowering cholesterol (Statins) interacts with GRAPEFRUIT
  The body breaks down some medications used for lowering cholesterol to get rid of them. Grapefruit juice might decrease how quickly the body breaks down some medications used for lowering cholesterol. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking some medications used for lowering cholesterol might increase the effects and side effects of these medications.
  Some medications used for high cholesterol include lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), cerivastatin (Baycol), and others.
  

• please read about WARFARIN
  
• 
  
• Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with GRAPEFRUIT
  Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Drinking grapefruit juice might increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
  

here are some other important links that can be of use

http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/pp_guides/PDF/gfruit02.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-946-grapefruit.aspx?activeIngredientId=946&activeIngredientName=grapefruit

(click to interactions)

here is a partial listing of some medicines.. even the BLUE pill is listed

Artemether (Artenam, Paluther) Buspirone (BuSpar) Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

Carvedilol (Coreg) Cisapride (Propulsid) Clomipramine (Anafranil)

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) ** Sildenafil (Viagra)** Terfenadine (Seldane)

Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) Methylprednisolone, Praziquantel (Biltricide)

[Mike S]

I put no about the article being helpful to me because I don't use any form of grapefruit or juicy .... just wanted to clarify that .... I did find the article interesting so thank you for that ...... :thumbsup:

[i am bob]

I was going to ask my mommy but... Just kidding! This article is one that many of us on meds should read. Luckily I have kicked the Warfarin habit and now only take the low dosage asperin.

[earthdome]

I was going to ask my mommy but... Just kidding! This article is one that many of us on meds should read. Luckily I have kicked the Warfarin habit and now only take the low dosage asperin.

Yeah... I want to see if I can get off the statin's for cholesterol. The fewer meds the better. I don't want to get like my brother 8 years older than me who must have 6-8 prescription meds he takes. I am only at 3 and want get down to 1 or 2 if possible.

[Curley]

I refuse to pump my body full of chemicals, I seriously believe that the vast majority can do without them by following a sensible eating, drinking and exercise routine.

[i am bob]

I"d love to get off my meds.... I didn't even know I had a heart condition until I went through Heart Failure the first time... Later, after about a year on the meds, I tried to wean myself back off again - and went through Congestive Heart Failure a second time. Hopefully, once I am finally rooted as a transplanted Canadian in the Philippines, and with a new diet of more fruits and veggies available more easily, I can do another kick at the can and see how it goes!

[Steve & Myrlita]

I"d love to get off my meds.... I didn't even know I had a heart condition until I went through Heart Failure the first time... Later, after about a year on the meds, I tried to wean myself back off again - and went through Congestive Heart Failure a second time. Hopefully, once I am finally rooted as a transplanted Canadian in the Philippines, and with a new diet of more fruits and veggies available more easily, I can do another kick at the can and see how it goes!

That would be good Bob. They only thing I would suggest that if you decide to ween off, do it carefully under a doctor's supervision. Don't gamble with your life.

[johnb]

I' m a type2 Diabetic, and was warned years ago about eating or drinking grapefruit juice whilst taking Metformin, I'm not a great fan of grapefruit so not a problem for me to stay away from it, but it does seem that doctors dont always agree on the conflict of Grapefruit/metformin

http://www.drugsdb.com/rx/metformin/metformin-and-grapefruit/

[i am bob]

I"d love to get off my meds.... I didn't even know I had a heart condition until I went through Heart Failure the first time... Later, after about a year on the meds, I tried to wean myself back off again - and went through Congestive Heart Failure a second time. Hopefully, once I am finally rooted as a transplanted Canadian in the Philippines, and with a new diet of more fruits and veggies available more easily, I can do another kick at the can and see how it goes!

That would be good Bob. They only thing I would suggest that if you decide to ween off, do it carefully under a doctor's supervision. Don't gamble with your life.

ah?! You're taking all the fun out of it!!! :mocking: