Grapefruit can Cause Unintended Effects
Although these are not all the drugs that could be affected, they are some of the more common ones that could cause problems if taken with grapefruit.
The chemical bergamottin from grapefruit can cause another problem in the small intestines if a person is taking certain drugs. It can prevent transporter proteins from carrying certain medications through the body.
If these proteins can’t do their job, neither can the drugs that are transported by them. An example of a medicine that is transported by these proteins is Fexofenadine (Allegra), which is a common allergy medicine.
Drugs that Interact with Grapefruit Juice:
(from the December 2004 issue of the American Journal of Nursing)
Antibiotics: clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin
Anxiolytics: alprazolam, buspirone, midazolam, triazolam
Antiarrhythmics: amiodarone, quinidine
Anticoagulant: warfarin
Antiepileptic: carbamazepine
Antifungal: itraconazole
Anthelmintic: albendazole
Antihistamine: fexofenadine
Antineoplastics: cyclophosphamide, etoposide, ifosfamide, tamoxifen, vinblastine, vincristine
Antitussive: dextromethorphan
Antivirals: amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir
Benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment: finasteride
β-blockers: carvedilol
Calcium channel blockers: diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil
Erectile dysfunction drugs: sildenafil, tadalafil
Hormone replacement: cortisol, estradiol, methylprednisolone, progesterone, testosterone
Immunosuppressants: cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin
Opioids: alfentanil, fentanyl, sufentanil
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: fluvoxamine, sertraline
Xanthine: theophylline
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University of Rochester Medical Center