December 20, 2012

Certain Meds Mixed With Grapefruit Juice Can Be a Fatal Cocktail

The Canadian scientist who first discovered that grapefruit can alter certain prescription drug levels in the body has released an updated list of 85 medications that may cause such reactions, 43 of which can cause fatal interactions, The New York Times reports. A clinical pharmacologist at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario, David Bailey, PhD, updated his list to reflect releases of new medications over the past four years. The list includes drugs to treat HIV, high cholesterol and cancer, as well as immunosuppressants, psychotropic medications, synthetic opioids, birth control and estrogen.

How often such reactions occur is up for debate, but Bailey stresses that however rare they may be, anyone taking prescription medication and consuming grapefruit juice or grapefruit, as well as pomelo, lime and marmalade, should consult the list of drugs and monitor for symptoms that may indicate a side effect of the combination. Timing of grapefruit consumption is not relevant; it must be avoided entirely to avoid the potential interaction.

To see the full list of medications, click here.

To read the New York Times report, click here.

Search: Grapefruit, juice, interaction, fatal, drug levels, HIV, Canadian, researcher, David Bailey, Lawson Health Research Institute, medications, pomelo, lime, marmalade.

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Previous Comments:

BartonFink, , 2013-02-16 09:34:51
On the other hand, the heightened blood plasma levels could be dangerous! So talk to your physician. I asked my pharmacist last week about the grapefruit interaction thing and she urged me to continue my moderate grapefruit habit, as so far no problem has arisen.

BartonFink, Seattle, 2013-02-16 09:33:51
It used to be thought that grapefruit would slow elimination, but there is at least one study indicating that grapefruit increases bioavailability and has no effect on elimination. Grapefruit increases absorption of some drugs (and reduces the absorption of others). Specifically, some drugs that require an acidic stomach environment (like many HIV meds) can be absorbed more easily with grapefruit. Look for "Grapefruit juice enhances the bioavailability of the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir"

Rich30084, Atlanta, 2012-12-27 10:45:49
Looked at document...maybe someone could tell me the HIV meds that interfere...couldn't tell which specific ones...thanks