Prescription for Disaster:

Grapefruit’s Unappealing Consequences

 

New research shows that a component in grapefruits appears to interfere with the liver’s ability to eliminate some heart medicines and other drugs from the body.  As a result, they can build up in the blood to toxic levels.

The list of affected drugs includes medications to treat high blood pressure, heart failure arrhythmias and high cholesterol.   Some of the brand names are: Procardia, Plendil, Adalat, Nimotop, Calan, Verelan and Isoptin, Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Quinidine, Pletal and Norvasc.

Although the science behind this interaction is complex, the solution is simple.

“If you are taking medications which may be affected by grapefruit or grapefruit juice, then do not drink grapefruit juice,” said Joseph Marek, MD, cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists. “Studies still vary on how much juice a patient can drink and when.  Our advice is to play it safe and avoid grapefruits in any form.

Should you have questions about your medications and drinking grapefruit juice, we advise you to ask your Midwest Heart Specialists physician about interactions. 

 

 

 

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