Grapefruit Cautions

If you take Statins, don't eat grapefruit.

Grapefruit Juice Interactions:

Grapefruit juiceslows the body’s normal breakdown of cyclosporine, allowing it to build up to potentially excessive levels in the blood. If you take cyclosporine the safest approach is to avoid grapefruit juice altogether. 

 Grapefruit juice causes decreased absorption of itraconazole, which might result in treatment failure.  It is thus best to avoid taking grapefruit juice along with itraconazole.

 Grapefruit juice impairs the body’s normal breakdown of statins allowing them to build up to potentially excessive levels in the blood.  If you are taking statins the safest approach is to avoid grapefruit juice altogether. May interact with statins and is contraindicated in liver disease

 Grapefruit juicereduces the activity of cytochrome P-450 3A4 enzymes, resulting in increased levels of lovastatin. Presumably, because of this effect, consumption of grapefruit juice along with red yeast rice could increase the risk of side effects.   (Cytochrome P450 enzymes are found in and on the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of liver and other cells and are responsible for a large number of drug biotransformation reactions.)

 Grapefruit juice slows the body’s normal breakdown of benzodiazepines, allowing them to build up to potentially dangerous levels in the blood.  Therefore avoid grapefruit juice altogether if taking benzodiazepines.

 Grapefruit juice impairs the breakdown of calcium channel blockers allowing them to build up to potentially dangerous levels in the blood.  Avoid grapefruit juice altogether if taking calcium channel blockers.