Why and who should avoid grapefruit juice

The fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice offer plenty of benefits for optimum health.

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Benefits of Grapefruit 

It is rich in vitamin C,potassium, phosphorous, calcium, vitamin E,B,K and other phytonutrients.

It helps to keep immune system healthy and strong.


It helps to prevent cancer, asthma, heart and skin diseases.


It helps to relives digestive issues, cold and flu.


It is useful in tissue damage, broken bones, hemorrhoids, inflammation and joint pain.


It can prove useful in acne, fungal infection and brittle nails problem.


It relives headaches and stress.


It restores the electrolyte balance in the body.


It prevent cystic fibrosis and birthing difficulties.


But along with all these benefits there lies a caution.

Grapefruit or fresh grapefruit juice has to be taken wisely as it interact with many prescription and non-prescription medicine.

The grapefruit or juice increases the absorption of the drug into the bloodstream and higher concentration of drug  may led to adverse effect thereby increases the risk of liver damage and muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure.


Grapefruit or fresh grapefruit juice interact with many drugs


Example of such drugs include


some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, 

such as Zocor (simvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin) 

some blood pressure-lowering drugs,

such as Nifediac and Afeditab (both nifedipine) 

some organ transplant rejection drugs, 

such as Sandimmune and Neoral (both cyclosporine) 

some anti-anxiety drugs, 

such as BuSpar (buspirone) 

some anti-arrhythmia drugs,

such as Cordarone and Nexterone (both amiodarone) 

some antihistamines, 

such as Allegra (fexofenadine)
Not all drugs in that category interact with grapefruit juice. So, it is advisable to ask your health care expert to know if your drug is affected.

Read the Medication Guide or patient information sheet to find out if it’s OK to take drug with grapefruit juice.


Read the Drug Facts label for its use with fruit juices.


If you must avoid grapefruit juice with your medicine then


check the label of bottles of fruit juice or drinks flavored with fruit juice to make sure they don’t contain grapefruit juice


Avoid Seville oranges (often used to make orange marmalade) and tangelos (a cross between tangerines and grapefruit) affect the same enzyme as grapefruit juice.


References:

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM292839.pdf