Food for Thought.....

Buzzard
Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
As with any prescription medicine there are dos and dont's with each. I learned something that may be of interest to some that may not read the warning labels as closely as they might want to.

I have read that in most cases the typical "grapefruit" will increase the potency of a dosage by a substantial amount if eaten while on certain medicines, and there are a substantial amount of medicines with this claim. Say for instance a child is suppose to have a teaspoon of medicine, the grapefruit will cause that teaspoon of medicine to increase its potency thus you get a slight overdose of that prescription. Its simply food for thought and all replies or rebuttals are welcome...........Buzz

Comments

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #2
    I heard that too
    NO GRAPEFRUIT with cholesterol medicine, that is a BIG no, NO!
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #3
    Nana b said:

    I heard that too
    NO GRAPEFRUIT with cholesterol medicine, that is a BIG no, NO!

    Grapefruit ,as well as grapefruit juice,
    may also detract from the effectiveness of some medications while indeed increasing those of others......
  • Joy1216
    Joy1216 Member Posts: 290 Member
    #4
    When Drugs and Drinks Don't Mix
    I cut out a chart from Consumer Reports Health a while back with the above title. Here is a summary of the drugs and drinks that don't mix:
    Antacids - Milk
    Antidepressants - Coffee, tea, and grape juice
    Antihistamines - Grapefruit and orange juice
    Antihypertensive drugs - Grapefruit juice and pomegranate juice
    Antipsychotics - Coffee and tea
    Blood thinners - Soy milk and cranberry juice
    Cancer drugs (tamoxifen) - Soy milk
    Cholesterol-lowering drugs - Grapefruit juice, orange juice, and pomegranate juice
    Cough suppressants - Grapefruit juice
    Erectile-dysfunction drugs - Grapefruit juice
    Laxatives - Milk
    Osteoporosis drugs - Coffee
    Sedatives - Grapefruit

    The chart also lists specific effects of mixing these. If you want me to e-mail you the chart, send me your personal e-mail address in a PM.
    Joy
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #5
    Joy1216 said:

    When Drugs and Drinks Don't Mix
    I cut out a chart from Consumer Reports Health a while back with the above title. Here is a summary of the drugs and drinks that don't mix:
    Antacids - Milk
    Antidepressants - Coffee, tea, and grape juice
    Antihistamines - Grapefruit and orange juice
    Antihypertensive drugs - Grapefruit juice and pomegranate juice
    Antipsychotics - Coffee and tea
    Blood thinners - Soy milk and cranberry juice
    Cancer drugs (tamoxifen) - Soy milk
    Cholesterol-lowering drugs - Grapefruit juice, orange juice, and pomegranate juice
    Cough suppressants - Grapefruit juice
    Erectile-dysfunction drugs - Grapefruit juice
    Laxatives - Milk
    Osteoporosis drugs - Coffee
    Sedatives - Grapefruit

    The chart also lists specific effects of mixing these. If you want me to e-mail you the chart, send me your personal e-mail address in a PM.
    Joy

    Interactions.....


    Life is so much easier when you take an alternative to western medicine's drugs!



    There -are- other options.


    John
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #6
    Grapefruit:
    I tke Lipitor and anything grapefruit is a big no no. Don't know why but a warning label is even slapped on the prescription bottle.

    Anybody know why grapefruit affects medication?

    Tina
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
    Cagney
    What if you use a grapefruit like Jimmy Cagney did in that movie?
    I know about the grapefruit, it bummed me because I like fresh ruby red grapefruit. It's weird how other citrus does not affect it though.
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #8
    PhillieG said:

    Cagney
    What if you use a grapefruit like Jimmy Cagney did in that movie?
    I know about the grapefruit, it bummed me because I like fresh ruby red grapefruit. It's weird how other citrus does not affect it though.

    I had no idea
    Buzz,

    Thanks for sharing this bit of knowledge. I had no idea something so seemingly benign could cause such problems, definitely good to know.

    Don
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #9
    coolvdub said:

    I had no idea
    Buzz,

    Thanks for sharing this bit of knowledge. I had no idea something so seemingly benign could cause such problems, definitely good to know.

    Don

    Surprised beer not on the
    Surprised beer not on the list!
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #10
    Kenny H. said:

    Surprised beer not on the
    Surprised beer not on the list!

    Some specific meds not to take with grape -fruit or juice:
    Valium, Halcion, Buspar; Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor; Cardene, Plendil, Procardia, Calan Verelan.......These are Sleeping/Anxiety meds;Statins; calcium channel Blockers......

    Just as some sbstances work synergestically together, enhancing the effects of both ,as in 1+1=6; others, when taken together,negate the effects of one or the other or both and can even be detrimental to health,synergestic in a negative manner, so to speak.....
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #11
    coloCan said:

    Some specific meds not to take with grape -fruit or juice:
    Valium, Halcion, Buspar; Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor; Cardene, Plendil, Procardia, Calan Verelan.......These are Sleeping/Anxiety meds;Statins; calcium channel Blockers......

    Just as some sbstances work synergestically together, enhancing the effects of both ,as in 1+1=6; others, when taken together,negate the effects of one or the other or both and can even be detrimental to health,synergestic in a negative manner, so to speak.....

    Although eating fruit may
    Although eating fruit may seem harmless, drinking a glass of grapefruit juice or eating a grapefruit around the time you take your statin may be deadly.
    The Interaction Between Grapefruit and Statins
    Grapefruit contains the compound bergamottin, which interacts with certain enzyme systems in the body, such as cytochrome P-450 and P-glycoprotein. These enzyme systems are responsible for breaking down statins, as well as other drugs, into more usable chemicals and transporting them in the body.

    When grapefruit juice is consumed at or around the time you take your statin, the components in grapefruit prevent these enzyme systems from breaking down the drug, causing the drug to accumulate in high amounts in the body. This can be very dangerous and can cause a variety of health problems, such as liver damage or a rare condition called rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle and kidney damage).
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #12
    Nana b said:

    Although eating fruit may
    Although eating fruit may seem harmless, drinking a glass of grapefruit juice or eating a grapefruit around the time you take your statin may be deadly.
    The Interaction Between Grapefruit and Statins
    Grapefruit contains the compound bergamottin, which interacts with certain enzyme systems in the body, such as cytochrome P-450 and P-glycoprotein. These enzyme systems are responsible for breaking down statins, as well as other drugs, into more usable chemicals and transporting them in the body.

    When grapefruit juice is consumed at or around the time you take your statin, the components in grapefruit prevent these enzyme systems from breaking down the drug, causing the drug to accumulate in high amounts in the body. This can be very dangerous and can cause a variety of health problems, such as liver damage or a rare condition called rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle and kidney damage).

    Info.... info....
    Info.... info....


    "Grapefruit’s culprit chemical does not interact directly with
    your pills. Instead, it binds to an enzyme in your intestinal
    tract known as CYP3A4, which reduces the absorption of certain
    medications. When grapefruit juice blocks the enzyme, it’s easier
    for the medication to pass from your gut to your bloodstream.
    Blood levels will rise faster and higher than normal, and in some
    cases the abnormally high levels can be dangerous."

    From: http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0206d.shtml
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #13
    John23 said:

    Info.... info....
    Info.... info....


    "Grapefruit’s culprit chemical does not interact directly with
    your pills. Instead, it binds to an enzyme in your intestinal
    tract known as CYP3A4, which reduces the absorption of certain
    medications. When grapefruit juice blocks the enzyme, it’s easier
    for the medication to pass from your gut to your bloodstream.
    Blood levels will rise faster and higher than normal, and in some
    cases the abnormally high levels can be dangerous."

    From: http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0206d.shtml

    Thanks to all for input on this.....
    I am like Phil was...loved Ruby Red Grapefruit for breakfast almost every morning when I could get it...Hard to let it go now but I did...ya just never know what might be lurkin' around in your cereal Huh ?

    Have a good weekend........Buzz

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