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Grapefruit and Medication interactions


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Just wanted to make a note letting people that eating grapefruit while on meds isn't a good idea. It builds meds up in the bloodstream, causing side effects. I tried this, ate a grapefruit, and became very groggy ... regretted it.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0206d.shtml

Here is a more specific one, but IMO would caution against other psych meds as well:

http://www.holistic-online.com/Herbal-med/_Herbs/grapefruit-interactions-psychiatric-medications.htm

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I am on several meds that have grapefruit warnings, but my pdoc and neuro both said I could have grapefruit once or twice a month. The only juices I drink are grapefruit and tomato, so now grapefruit juice is a treat every month or two.

As always, ask your pdoc, YMMV, etc.

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I eat half a grapefruit every morning from November to about May. When I asked my doctor about it, he said that these studies are done with the patients drinking quarts of grapefruit juice in a week. The half I eat every morning has maybe 3 or 4 oz. of juice in it, and he didn't think that was enough to affect anything.

However, as crtclms said, YMMV. All of us react to drugs (and foods) very differently.

olga

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It's not a problem with all meds, just some. What happens is that grapefruit blocks a particular enzyme in the liver, preventing the liver from breaking down these meds, and they build up for a while in the blood stream until the liver can clear things out.

Check your med caution stickers, ask your pharmacist for info. You can use a med interaction checker like

http://www.drugs.com/

One of my my meds has a caution, so I normally avoid grapefruit. Once in a while I get a craving and buy a grapefruit or a bottle of juice for breakfast. No problems with occasional pleasures! :)

a.m.

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I have never liked grapefruit.

Since I started meds I noticed the warning. Now, I have a great excuse for not eating/drinking grapefruit - "it interacts with my meds." I got to tell that to someone once. I like knowing I can use it in the future.

I write this post to inspire others. :)

db

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  • 1 month later...

Whenever I read the "Do not take with grapefruit or grapefruit juice" label it immediately makes me crave grapefruit choice.

Also, as an aside: A friend once told me that saying "Grapefruit Juice" when you feel a sneeze coming on will prevent the sneeze. I've tried it once or twice and it seemed to work, but I like sneezing so I haven't really tested it enough to know for sure how reliable it is.

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