Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs Don't Mix

Grapefruit juice and the actual grapefruit can be part of a healthy diet. Grapefruit has vitamin C and potassium—nutrients your body needs to work properly. an article by the FDA website

Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems with (interact):

• Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin).
• Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine).
• Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Sandimmune and Neoral (both cyclosporine).
• Some anti-anxiety drugs, such as buspirone.
• Some corticosteroids that treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, such as Entocort EC and Uceris (both budesonide).
• Some drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as Pacerone and Nexterone (both amiodarone).
• Some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine).

Grapefruit juice does not affect all the drugs in the categories above. The severity of the interaction can be different depending on the person, the drug, and the amount of grapefruit juice you drink. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider and read any information provided with your prescription or OTC drug to find out:

• If your specific drug may be affected.
• How much, if any, grapefruit juice you can have.
• What other fruits or juices may also affect your drug in a similar way to grapefruit juice.

• Ask your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider if you can drink grapefruit juice while taking your medication.
• Check for Drug - Food interactions at CheckMyMeds.org 
• Read the medication guide or patient information sheet that comes with your prescription drug to find out if grapefruit juice affects your drug.
• Read the Drug Facts label on your OTC drug, which will say whether you shouldn’t have grapefruit or other fruit juices with it.
• If you must avoid grapefruit juice with your medicine, check the labels of fruit juices or drinks flavored with fruit juice to see whether they are made with grapefruit juice.
• Seville oranges (often used to make orange marmalade), pomelos, and tangelos (a cross between tangerines and grapefruit) may have the same effect as grapefruit juice. Do not eat those fruits if your medicine interacts with grapefruit juice.