Grapefruit and other juice products appear to interfere with an enzyme the body uses to break down certain statins. Included are Zocor (simvastatin), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev) and to a lesser extent Lipitor (atorvastatin). Grapefruit juice may increase the amount of drug that remains in the body.
Some statins ( cholesterol-lowering drugs): lovastatin ( Mevacor ),atorvastatin ( Lipitor ),simvastatin ( Zocor ).
Antihistamines: fexofenadine (Allegra)
Some type of calcium channel blockers ( blood pressure drugs ): felodipine ( Plendil ),nifedipine ( Adalat,Afeditab CR,Procardia)
Certain psychiatric drugs: buspirone,triazolam ( Halcion ),carbamazepine ( Tegretol ),diazepam ( Valium ),midazolam ( Versed ),sertraline ( Zoloft)
Some immunosuppressants: cyclosporine ( Neoral ),tacrolimus ( Prograf)
Certain pain medications: methadone
The impotence drug (erectile dysfunction): sildenafil (Viagra)
Some HIV medication: saquinavir ( Invirase)
Some antiarrhythmics: amiodarone ( Cordarone,Nexterone,Pacerone)
What medicines are affected by grapefruit?
Dear Dr. Roach: For many years,I have heard that grapefruit products interfere with medication that one is taking.
Answer: Grapefruit juice reduces the activity of an enzyme called cytochrome P 3A4,which metabolizes many drugs.
Dear Dr.
Answer: There’s a little bit of truth there.
Some cancer drugs,antibiotics,or heart medications may lead to an abnormal heart rhythm when combined with grapefruit.
Muscle and kidney damage can be a serious side effect with statins used for lowering cholesterol.
Some immunosuppressants used after organ transplants have been reported to cause kidney damage.
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