News In Health – Don’t Mix Fruit, Juices And Drugs
In case you didn’t already know it, scientists have known for almost 20 years that grapefruit juice can actually increase the absorption of some drugs. They even have a name for it, “Grapefruit Juice Effect.” (Not very original, but it gets the point across.)
Unexpectedly increasing the absorption of a drug is not a good thing, of course, because what should have been a normal dose of the drug becomes an overdose. The combination of about 50 different drugs with grapefruit juice can have toxic results. Because of this, many prescription drugs now carry a warning label advising against ingesting grapefruit while taking the drug.
The Reverse Effect
Well, the same folks who discovered grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of certain drugs are now telling us that it can also have the opposite effect with some drugs, and substantially DECREASE the absorption.
In that case, instead of a potential overdose of the drug, the medicine’s benefits are pretty well wiped out. Some of the drugs affected are:
- Antibiotics such as Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Levaquin (levofloxacin), and Sporanox (itraconazole);
- Beta blockers such as Tenormin (atenolol), Cardem (it has several brand names, generic is celiprolol), and talinolol which are used to treat high blood pressure and prevent heart attacks;
- Cyclosporine, a drug taken to prevent rejection of transplanted organs; and
- Etoposide, an anticancer agent.
The chemical in grapefruit causing the problem is called naringin. Somehow it blocks a key drug uptake transporter, called OATP1A2, that helps move drugs out of the small intestine and into the bloodstream.
It would seem if you take these medicines with grapefruit juice, you may think you’re getting an antibiotic to treat an infection, or something to help your blood pressure, for instance, when the drugs might not be helping at all. Talk about false assurances and a waste of money!
Now maybe you aren’t a big fan of grapefruit juice so aren’t too concerned, but as it turns out, apple juice and orange juice cause problems too. Oranges have a different chemical called hesperidin that blocks drug transport. So far, the scientists haven’t figured out what the chemical is in apples that causes the problem, but it’s not the same chemical found in either oranges or grapefruit.
Guess you really CAN’T compare apples to oranges!
At any rate, it would seem the wisest course of action is to avoid fruit juices when taking medications, and drink water instead!
American Chemical Society (August 29, 2008) Pro Health
