Did you know that your favorite grape fruit juice can interact with certain medications? Grape fruit and its juice can alter the absorption of medications into the blood stream. Medicines will be absorbed faster into the blood stream either if taken along with grape fruit juice or when juice is taken any time of the day. Not all medicines shows an interactions while some medications like blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications and medications for certain heart ailments. Other medications include tranquilizers, anti seizure medications, HIV medications, erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra and antidepressants.
Grape fruit or grape fruit juice can cause interactions with medications due to a compound called polyphenolics . It can interfere with enzymes that breaks down medications causing larger amount of medications in the blood stream. This causes side effects. Grape fruit belongs to the group of citrus fruits, but other citrus fruits like lemon and oranges do not exhibit such interaction with medications. All other citrus fruits are completely safe to be taken along with medications.
Grape fruit juice affects intestinal isoenzyme intestinal cytochrome P450 3A4. Drug toxicity can occur due to defects in metabolism of medications. The effect of grape fruit juice upon medication can occur up to a day or even longer after juice consumption. If you are unsure about the medication you are taking and its possible interaction with grape juice, read the labels on medications carefully or talk to your doctor. If you fear a risk of interaction between medications used and grape fruit, do avoid taking the fruit or its juice until the medication is stopped. Remember that taking medications and grape fruit juice can cause over toxicity causing serious side effects.
