It warns patients not to stop taking their medication without consulting their GP first. The NHS explains: "If your usual diet includes grapefruit or grapefruit juice and you've been prescribed a medicine that's affected, speak to your GP or pharmacist." The government regulator even confirmed that "interactions may increase the risk of serious adverse reactions or, in some cases, reduce the effectiveness of treatment."Īnd whilst its advisable for patients on statins to avoid - or at least reduce - consumption of grapefruit juice, officials recommend consulting with medical professionals if there's concern. Why A: Certain classes of drugs most notably statins are metabolized (broken down) in your intestines by an enzyme called CYP3A, which normally reduces the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream. Some doctors recommend avoiding any grapefruit juice. Specific warnings about combing such statins and grapefruit juice has also been issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) within the last decade. Q: Ive heard that people shouldnt drink grapefruit juice if theyre taking a statin. Grapefruit juice may decrease the ability of the liver to metabolize some statins, for example, atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), and lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), and should not be consumed at the same time as the statin medication is taken. NICE even states that the severity of interaction between grapefruit juice and simvastatin is considered "severe," with its manufacturer advising customers to avoid the juice entirely - just as the NHS does. In particular, there is evidence that the product "increases the exposure to atorvastatin simvastatin". Grapefruit can also help lower cholesterol but inhibits a substance in your small. Lipitor helps decrease an enzyme found in the liver that produces cholesterol in the body. Patients taking Simvastatin however are warned to avoid consuming grapefruit due to health risks.Īccording to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), statin manufacturers themselves have recommended caution over grapefruit juice. Lipitor is in the drug class known as statins, which are used for lowering bad cholesterol that can be found in human blood. The health provider suggests that those prescribed Atorvastatin should only drink the juice in small quantities, with the recommendation of below 1.2 litres a day. It warns that those taking certain stations should not combine such medication with grapefruit juice, with doctors advising patients to "avoid it completely or only consume small quantities."Ĭurrently, the NHS states that it is safe to consume grapefruit products if you're taking Fluvastatin, Pravastatin or Rosuvastatin. This means that the medication may be more 'active' than intended with the NHS explaining that "this can increase the risk of side effects or alter the effect the medicine has."
Health experts state that grapefruit contains a chemical that interferes with the body's ability to break down medication, known as drug metabolism. The citrus fruit typically increases the level of medication in the blood, particularly when taken in juice form. There's a history of concern regarding grapefruit consumption and its effect on prescription medication. Health officials have often warned against consuming grapefruit juice whilst on statins (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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