Grapefruit juice may enhance drug toxicity for antiarrhythmic agents
Which medications should not be taken with grapefruit?
Examples of common medications that interact with grapefruit juice include certain
statin
cholesterol drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin, simvastatin (Zocor), felodipine (Plendil) and other calcium channel blockers, clarithromycin (Biaxin), and loratadine (Claritin).
What heart medication reacts 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).
Can heart patients have grapefruit?
Grapefruit is
low in calories
; high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants; and nutritious. It should be enjoyed as part of a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. Patients stabilized on medications can consume a fresh grapefruit or a 10-ounce glass of grapefruit juice without fear of major adverse effects.
Is grapefruit bad for heart disease?
Chronic high blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. A grapefruit a day — particularly the red variety —
can help keep heart disease at bay
, according to a new study by Israeli researchers.
Can I eat grapefruit while taking blood pressure medicine?
Most types of blood pressure medicines are
not affected
by grapefruit.
What happens if you eat grapefruit while taking blood pressure medicine?
They're used as part of the treatment of conditions such as
high blood pressure (hypertension)
and coronary heart disease. Grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers and increases the level of the medicine in your blood.
Why is grapefruit bad for high blood pressure?
Grapefruit contains compounds that may interfere with how your body absorbs some drugs
, including some blood pressure medicines. It can leave too much or too little of the drug in your bloodstream, which may be dangerous. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if grapefruit could affect the medicine you're taking.
Does grapefruit lower blood pressure?
1. Citrus fruits. 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 ).
What should you not take with blood pressure medicine?
- Decongestants, such as those that contain pseudoephedrine.
- Pain medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Cold and flu medicines. …
- Some antacids and other stomach medicines. …
- Some herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
Can eating one grapefruit a day clear plaque from arteries?
Eating just one red grapefruit daily for a month can
help to lower LDL cholesterol by as much as 20 percent
, one study in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry in March 2006 showed. This cardioprotective effect is most likely due to compounds called liminoids and lycopene found in the pulp.
Can grapefruit clear plaque in arteries?
In one study, animals fed a high-cholesterol diet plus grapefruit pectin had 24
percent
narrowing of their arteries, versus the control with 45 percent narrowing. In other words, the pectin binds to cholesterol and helps to remove arterial buildup.
What does grapefruit do to the heart?
Regularly consuming grapefruit is thought
to improve heart health by reducing risk factors for heart disease
, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. In one study, people who ate grapefruit three times daily for six weeks experienced significant reductions in blood pressure over the course of the study.
Can grapefruit increase heart rate?
Grapefruit increased plasma concentrations of nisoldipine by increasing its systemic availability and there was
an increase in heart rate
[40].
How long should you wait to eat grapefruit after taking medication?
This makes it more likely that you will have side effects from the medicine. 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.
Does lemon juice affect medications?
Although the situation is complex and uncertainties remain, we recommend that
patients avoid citrus juice intake
while taking medications and that healthcare providers advise against citrus juice intake in this setting until any interactions with subject drugs can be clarified in clinical studies.
