What medicines should not eat grapefruit with

In the instructions for use of most medicines there is a mandatory reference to the list of prohibited combinations. Almost always in it the most dangerous combination is called the alliance of medicines with alcoholic beverages. But in some cases, grapefruit is much more dangerous than alcohol.

Adults and children are used to considering this citrus fruit as a source of vitamins and the main modulator of the immune system. But when it reacts with certain kinds of medications, this tropical fruit forms a real rattlesnake mix. And the reaction can be so strong that the drug designed to treat the disease turns into a life-threatening poison. Let's look at the reasons why grapefruit acts irregularly, with what drugs its union is especially dangerous, how to properly use the juice in the treatment.

Why you can not eat grapefruit with drugs

Canadian scientists from the University of Western Ontario first identified an unusual feature of the exotic fruit. The discovery was made completely by accident when researchers were studying the compatibility of calcium channel blockers with alcoholic beverages. For the purity of the experiment, they decided to add some fresh grapefruit juice to a fortified drink. The result struck the scientists: the symptoms of the clinical picture of overdose were much stronger than after the use of pure alcohol.

This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the fruit contains certain components that, when interacting with certain drugs, form dangerous compounds. These are components of two groups:

1. Furanocoumarins - acid-containing organic compounds that can block the production of the most important cytochrome enzyme - P450. This component ensures the breakdown of drugs and promotes their absorption. But when its action is blocked, the concentration of the active substance of the drug in the blood increases sharply, which leads not only to a more pronounced manifestation of the side effect, but even to intoxication of the body.
2. Flavonoids also belong to the class of organic compounds. They are found in large quantities in any plant food, acting as a pigment, that is, coloring the product in a certain color. Flavonoids also prevent the normal breakdown of the components of drugs, and also reduce the rate of metabolism.

This is not the whole list of components in the composition of the grapefruit, which can initiate the mechanisms of adverse reaction in the interaction with drugs. Today, these properties of the tropical fruit are being actively studied. Pharmacologists have already counted about a hundred medicines that should not be combined with the citrus fruit and its juice.

Interestingly, the negative effects can manifest themselves after half a glass of juice or several slices of fruit eaten. But, in addition to the amount of the dangerous ingredient, the following factors are also important:

• The sex and age of the patient;
• The nature of the disease and its severity;
• the patient's body weight;
• The use of alcoholic beverages.

The drug itself also plays a significant role in the formation of the body's response to the dangerous combination. Researchers have identified such a pattern: the more strictly the patient observes the dosage and regimen of taking the drug, the more severe is the manifestation of the adverse reaction clinic.

Important: Not only grapefruit has such abilities, but also its closest relatives: pomelo, Seville oranges, tangelo.

List of medicines and pills that grapefruit does not mix with

The list of drugs with which it is strictly forbidden to combine the use of grapefruit and related citrus fruits is quite impressive. To date, it occupies 85 positions of the drugs that are most often used in therapy against various diseases. Physicians divide all drugs into two groups: very dangerous and moderately dangerous.

Let's dwell on the main groups of drugs:

1. Statins. These are drugs aimed at normalizing the level of cholesterol in the blood. The best known drugs are: Zocor, Mevacor, Lipitor. Their combination with grapefruit is dangerous because it can lead to kidney damage.
2. Hypotensive drugs. These are calcium channel blockers and non-peptide blockers. Among the most popular remedies in these two groups are Nifedipine, Lozartan. Combination with citrus fruit juice can cause a sharp rise in BP and heart rhythm disturbances.
3. Antiviral agents. These are primarily the antibiotic erythromycin, the HIV drug Rillivirin, and antimalarial medications. Their combination with citrus fruit disrupts the normal heart rhythm.
4. Sleeping pills and antidepressants. This is quite a large group of medications, which today are actively used in the therapy of various neurotic conditions and as an additional tool in the treatment of many chronic pathologies. Examples include Diazepam, Buspirone, Triazopam. Symptoms of a dangerous combination in this case are drowsiness, dizziness, cardiac dysfunction.
5. Painkillers in company with citrus fruit stop working at all. These are Metadol, Fentanip, Colchicine.
6. Blood thinners: Plavix, Alixaban, Ticagrelor. Their combination with grapefruit increases the risk of internal bleeding.
7. Erectile dysfunction drugs can cause men's blood pressure to drop dramatically. This group of medications includes all analogues of Viagra: Silodosin, Tadalafil.
8. Antiarrhythmic drugs, such as Amiodarone and Disopyramide in a dangerous combination can manifest themselves negatively, worsening heart function.
9. Hormonal drugs. These are oral contraceptives. If they are washed down with grapefruit juice, the entire therapeutic effect of such a combination will go into the negative, that is, the drug will be completely useless.
10. Immunosuppressants. This group of drugs is designed to prevent the reaction of organ rejection after transplant surgery. This medical field uses such a well-known drug as Cyclosporine. When combined with a citrus product, this medication can cause a very severe adverse reaction.
11. Some antihistamines and corticosteroids also have side effects when combined with grapefruit juice or any other fruit consumption option. The severity of the reaction depends largely on the individual susceptibility of the body, as well as on how the drug is administered. This refers only to those drugs that are taken orally.

Note: In combination with caffeine, grapefruit juice can cause severe tachycardia and headache. Therefore, you should not use the tonic drink together with the citrus fruit.

What harm can come from combining pills with grapefruit

In order for the treatment not to turn into additional problems, it is necessary to carefully study the instructions before taking any medication. The accompanying annotation to any drug clearly prescribes all the risks of undesirable combinations. Therefore, grapefruit is often listed as a dangerous product to combine.

If we summarize the side effects of combining the product with drugs, we can divide these effects into two groups:

1. Directly increased risk of developing unwanted effects.
2. A decrease in the therapeutic effect of a particular drug.

The first group of effects should include symptoms such as:

• tachycardia;
• severe headaches;
• tremors of the extremities;
• respiratory depression to the point of fatality;
• manifestations of an allergic nature;
• internal bleeding;
• fainting states;
• liver dysfunction;
• renal failure.

The second group of consequences includes situations when the treatment in progress does not give any positive result at all. The best example of such a reaction can be considered a combination of contraceptive hormonal drugs and citrus fruit.

If in normal life the case with contraceptives does not seem so serious, in other circumstances an overdose of the drug can cause a crushing blow to the liver, which will subsequently affect the health of the patient.

Important: Grapefruit juice is not recommended for acute gastrointestinal diseases: ulcers and gastritis with high acidity. The product is dangerous in colitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, nephritis and liver pathologies.

Can you drink medication with grapefruit juice

We have seen that the special properties of grapefruit make us be wary of its use during the treatment of certain diseases. The citrus fruit can lead to a powerful overdose of certain medicines or negate the entire therapeutic effect. But this fact does not mean that we should completely abandon such a useful vitamin product. True, physicians believe that the organic compounds of grapefruit, which we mentioned in the very beginning of the article, are eliminated from the body after 1-3 days. Therefore, to consume the juice a few hours after taking medication is the wrong treatment tactic.

It is best to consult your doctor on this issue. It should be remembered that just one glass of fresh nectar of the citrus fruit can trigger an undesirable reaction. Perhaps the surest way to protect yourself from the consequences is to temporarily stop drinking your favorite juice.

How to eat grapefruit during treatment

Proceeding from the rule that during any treatment all risks should be minimized, it is best to avoid eating fresh citrus fruits at all during this period. Why play roulette, when your own health is at stake. After all, no one knows how the body will perceive the combination of juice of the tropical fruit with the pills that the doctor prescribed. But there are often such difficult situations in life, when, for example, grapefruit is an important part of the diet of a person weakened by illness.

Nutritionists often recommend the fruit to patients suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses. After all, in the diet of such patients exotic product plays an important role: it helps digestion, strengthens the immune system. Therefore, the rejection of such a useful fruit can also cause a number of serious consequences. This is especially true in situations where there will be a long time treatment. In such cases, the easiest method is to choose an analogue of the drug, which in interaction with grapefruit juice will not give a negative reaction.

But even in a situation where it will be possible to find a decent alternative to the drug, the following rules should be observed:

1. Nutritionists advise a very careful approach to the consumption of grapefruit. At the same time, it is necessary to always adhere to the measure, and during the period of any treatment to reduce the presence of the fruit in the diet.
2. Do not use grapefruit on an empty stomach, because the citrus fruit can sharply increase the concentration in the blood of the active components of the drug, or vice versa completely neutralize their therapeutic effect.
3. The increased acidity of the natural product has a devastating effect on the mucous tissues of the digestive tract and dental enamel. Therefore, it is better to drink the juice after meals and use a cocktail straw for this purpose.
4. Although in its pure form the fruit contains a maximum of vitamin components and other useful substances, it is better to add it to meat and fish dishes. Grapefruit perfectly shades the taste of fruit and vegetable salads, it can be added to a side dish.
5. You can drink grapefruit juice 2-3 hours after taking medication.
6. To minimize possible adverse reactions, it is better not to consume pure juice, but to make smoothies.

When consumed correctly, grapefruit juice will help to activate the liver. The product will speed up metabolic processes and lipid-fat metabolism.

Prohibited combinations

And now let's focus on when grapefruit is prohibited to take in the treatment. Lovers of fruit juice from the exotic fruit should always assess the risks of its combination with drugs. Completely refuse to use it in the following situations, which we will conventionally call the rules.

1. The tropical fruit is strictly forbidden to consume during the period of taking drugs aimed at reducing blood cholesterol levels. As we have already noted in the beginning of the article, the components present in the fruit block the action of the liver enzyme that destroys statins. As a result, these substances accumulate in excessive amounts, which is a powerful blow to the health of the liver and muscle tissues.
2. While taking hypotensive drugs, you will also have to completely give up citrus delicacies. The reason is the same as in the situation with statins: the breakdown of the active components of the drug into simple components is blocked. The result of such a combination instead of reducing blood pressure, you can expect a spike, which threatens the development of a hypertensive crisis.
3. The third rule is also due to the peculiarity of the components of grapefruit to block the process of splitting the medication. But this time we are talking about taking drugs for arrhythmia, which in combination with grapefruit juice or during the consumption of the whole fruit can dramatically increase the concentration of the drug in the body. Unfortunately, in a progressive course of events, things can end up being fatal.

Conclusion
Any type of treatment needs to be taken seriously. Therefore, it is necessary to study in detail the scheme and rules of therapy before taking medication. The instructions always indicate contraindications, as well as a list of prohibited products during treatment. Usually it is noted that taking the medicine cannot be combined with the consumption of fruit juices, and then there is a list of potentially dangerous drinks.

Despite a lot of useful qualities, grapefruit is often found on such lists. It is impossible to neglect the contraindications, even if we are talking about a single dose of, for example, a drug for blood pressure. We must remember that even a small serving of juice or a few slices of the citrus fruit can trigger a negative reaction, which can end in disaster.