Grapefruit Medication Interactions

Many of the other benefits of grapefruit is that it also provides you with energy, carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and manganese.

HOWEVER, grapefruit and grapefruit juice are also known to interact and interfere with certain prescription medications which can cause serious side-effects. The enzymes that are supposed to break down the medications in your digestive system can be severely hindered by the specific chemicals which grapefruit contains and the result is that more medication stays in your body.

I came across this extensive, and probably still incomplete, list of medications which are already known to be affected by the intake of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and also other bitter citrus fruit:

Alertec, Bayotensin, Buspar, Cafergot, Cardene, Cardioquin, Carim, Cialis, Codeine, Colcrys, Cordarone, Coreg, Cozaar, Dumyrox, Elavil, Eltroxin, Endep, Ergomar, Faverin, Fevarin, Gleevec, Halcion, Imodium, Levitra, Levoxyl, Lipitor, Losec, Lustral, Luvox, Mevacor, Modafinilo, Modalert, Modavigil, Modiodal, Multaq, Neoral, Nimotop, Norpace, Norvir, Oxycodone, Plendil, Prandin, Prilosec, Prograf, Provigil, Rhythmol, Quinidex, Quinora, Seroquel, Simcor, Simlup, Simvacor, Sular, Synthroid, Tasigna, Tegretol, Tramadol, Tylenol, Valium, Vanatrip, Verapamil, Versed, Viagra, Vigia, Xanax, Zocor, and Zoloft.

It is of the utmost importance to consult your doctor or check with the pharmacist for drug interactions, before you start eating grapefruits or drinking grapefruit juice. You may be better off not consuming it at all.

Should you be able to incorporate it in your menu, then be aware of the fact that the grapefruit juices you buy in the stores often do not contain all the same nutrients. Alternating brands may be a good idea to take advantage of all the health benefits of this fruit.

Select ripe grapefruits for the highest amount of antioxidants. Heavy, firm, sweet smelling grapefruits reveal that their contents is juicier and their skin is thin, which is a good thing.

As it so turns out, not every fruit may be healthy for our well-being; the drug interactions may do more harm than good. The fruit of the Spirit on the other hand has nothing but benefits and should take priority on everyone's menu!

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.