Does Grapefruit Interfere With Antidepressants?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Does grapefruit interfere with antidepressants?

Most antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are safe to use with grapefruit

.

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Which medications should not be taken with grapefruit?


Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin)

. Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine). Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Neoral and Sandimmune capsule or oral solution (both cyclosporine).

Does grapefruit interact with SSRI?


Grapefruit juice can also interfere with the metabolism of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

, or S.S.R.I.’s, like Prozac, which are used to treat depression.

Why can’t you eat grapefruit SSRI?

Why can’t you drink grapefruit juice with sertraline?

Carol Parker, a pharmacist and content manager for Drugsdb.com, says

grapefruit can cause Sertraline to be absorbed at too fast a rate

.

Can I eat grapefruit with Zoloft?

Anti-anxiety medications such as sertraline (Zoloft), buspirone (Buspar), and diazepam (Valium)

can cause drowsiness or dizziness when taken with grapefruit juice

.

Does grapefruit interact with psych meds?

Unlike some types of citrus fruit,

grapefruit can interfere with the metabolization of certain drugs

, inadvertently increasing their concentration to potentially toxic levels. Bipolar drugs are not the only ones affected.

Can I eat grapefruit with Lexapro?

Avoiding food and drug interactions

While the majority of food and drink don’t adversely react to Lexapro,

grapefruit juice can affect Lexapro

. Consuming grapefruit juice can increase the amount of Lexapro in the body, increasing the risk of side effects.

What meds are affected by grapefruit?

  • Statins. Statins are medicines that lower your cholesterol. …
  • Calcium channel blockers. …
  • Anticoagulants. …
  • Antiplatelet medicines. …
  • Ciclosporin and immunosuppressants. …
  • Entocort. …
  • Cytotoxic medicines. …
  • Other medicines.

Can I eat grapefruit on citalopram?

Additionally,

grapefruit, grapefruit-containing foods, and grapefruit juice can cause side effects as well

. Taking citalopram with another SSRI or certain herbal supplements, particularly St. John’s Wort, could increase your odds of getting Serotonin Syndrome, a potentially deadly condition.

How long after eating grapefruit can I take medication?

Interactions can happen

up to three days

after eating or drinking grapefruit. This means you cannot drink grapefruit juice in the morning and take your medications later in the day to stop possible medicine interactions.

What is Serotonin syndrome symptoms?

Serotonin is a chemical that the body produces naturally. It’s needed for the nerve cells and brain to function. But too much serotonin causes signs and symptoms that can range from mild (

shivering and diarrhea

) to severe (muscle rigidity, fever and seizures). Severe serotonin syndrome can cause death if not treated.

What should you not mix with Zoloft?

What Other Medications May Interact With Sertraline? Sertraline should not be taken with or within two weeks of taking

monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

. These include phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), rasagiline (Azilect®), and selegiline (Emsam®).

Can you eat oranges with sertraline?

Also, the Sertraline Oral Solution should not be mixed in grapefruit juice;

this solution is only mixable with water, ginger-ale, lemonade, orange juice

or lemon-lime soda; do not mix in any other liquids.

Can I drink alcohol on sertraline?


You can drink alcohol while taking sertraline, but it may make you feel sleepy

. It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel.

What can’t you eat on antidepressants?


Chocolate, red wine

, and antidepressants.

Along with many beers, aged cheeses, processed meats, and smoked fish, chocolate and red wine contain an amino acid derivative called tyramine. Mixing tyramine with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as selegiline and phenelzine can cause unsafe spikes in blood pressure.

Why do you gain weight on Zoloft?

Antidepressants may cause weight gain by

interfering with serotonin or histamine neurotransmitters in the brain that control appetite

. Some antidepressants may cause drowsiness or fatigue that lower levels of activity, leading to weight gain.

What should you avoid on Lexapro?

Can I drink coffee with Lexapro?

What can I not eat on Lexapro?

While

alcoholic beverages

are the only food item that negatively interacts with Lexapro, the medication does have many other drug interactions.

How much grapefruit is too much?

The review authors state that

one whole grapefruit or 6.7 ounces

of grapefruit juice is enough to increase drug concentration in the bloodstream. For example, taking calcium inhibitors with grapefruit juice may cause toxicity in the kidneys.

How long does grapefruit juice stay in your system?

The interaction potential of even high amounts of grapefruit juice with CYP3A4 substrates dissipates within

3 to 7 days

after ingestion of the last dose of grapefruit juice.

Does grapefruit affect blood pressure?

What fruits interact with drugs?

Which fruit and fruit products can cause these interactions? Fruits associated with medicine interactions include

orange, pomelo, pomegranate, cranberry, grape, apple, and grapefruit

.

Does your brain go back to normal after antidepressants?

“The fact that antidepressant withdrawal can be so prolonged suggests that the drug has changed the brain and that those changes are taking a very long time to return to normal and it may be the case that

sometimes they don’t go back to normal

.”

How do I know if my serotonin levels are low?

  1. Depression. Research increasingly points to a complex relationship between depression and serotonin. …
  2. Changes in sleep. …
  3. Chronic pain. …
  4. Memory or learning issues. …
  5. Anxiety. …
  6. Schizophrenia. …
  7. Problems with the body’s internal clock. …
  8. Appetite issues.

How do you know if your antidepressant is too high?

Can I drink coffee while on antidepressants?


The SSRI, fluvoxamine, is also known to enhance the effects of caffeine

, so people who drink large amounts of caffeine may experience unpleasant symptoms such as heart palpitations, feeling sick, restlessness and insomnia.

Why should you not take sertraline on a night?

Can I drink coffee while taking Zoloft?

What fruits Cannot eat with sertraline?

  • Grapefruit Juice: Grapefruit juice increases the level in sertraline in the blood stream by inhibiting its metabolism.
  • St. …
  • Green Tea: Another herbal product to be avoided with sertraline is green tea.

Does sertraline cause weight gain?

What fruits interfere with high blood pressure medication?

People taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs should limit their intake of high-potassium foods like

bananas, oranges, avocados, tomatoes, white and sweet potatoes and dried fruits —, especially apricots

.

Why should you avoid grapefruit while taking certain medications?


Grapefruit interferes with proteins in the small intestine and liver that normally break down many medications

. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking these medications can lead to higher levels of them in your blood — and more side effects.

Why can’t diabetics have grapefruit?

Grapefruit is unique in that

it has an enzyme-binding ability

. This means that it may cause certain medications to pass from the GI tract into the bloodstream faster than normal, raising the amount of medication in your bloodstream, which can be potentially dangerous.

Is grapefruit good for high blood pressure?

Citrus fruits, including grapefruit, oranges, and lemons,

may have powerful blood-pressure-lowering effects

. They’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that may help keep your heart healthy by reducing heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure ( 4 ).

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.