Grapefruit and pills mix warning

[4me2]

Grapefruit and pills mix warning

By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News





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.
Neal Patel, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said: "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

[Bald Bouncer]

I know my doctor made a big thing about not eating or drinking Grapefruit with the blood pressure tablets I'm on, not really a problem I can't stand them or the juice and I make a point of making sure they are not in any mixed fruit juices I drink.

[ilscuro]

Same here, i absolutely hate grapefruit, i only ever ate it once when i was younger, and it made me ill for days.

[DJ OD]

Christ...

I drink grapefruit juice every day. Except the weekend.


DJ OD

[jaguar982]

I used to love pink grapefruit I had to stop wjen found I had high blood pressure

Jag

[Over Carl]

Funnily enuogh I only normally drink it on the weekends - the sharp taste is perfect for resetting taste buds messed up from last nights session.

[rids]

was there not a big this about drinking it with hay fever pills (triludan or some thing) years back

[DJ OD]

I used to love pink grapefruit I had to stop wjen found I had high blood pressure

Jag

Hmmm. I was under the impression that it was good to drink for high chlorestorol. I've had nigh BP as well in the past, but was never prescribed pills for it.

I'm actually drinking it now...


DJ OD

[greaseweasel]

was there not a big this about drinking it with hay fever pills (triludan or some thing) years back

Yeah its nothing new, I was on triludan as a kid with hayfever, instructions clearly said not to eat grapefruit / juice.

People just need a reminder as they can't be bothered to read the instructions.

[WRATH OF BOD]

my Doc made a big thing about it too.it laso says in the warning leaflet.i was on Statin for cholesterol