Grapefruit and Heart Medications: The Risks You Need To Be Aware Of

Grapefruit and Heart Medications: The Risks You Need To Be Aware Of

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Allergy
Heart & Vascular Health
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Contributed byKrish Tangella MD, MBAApr 14, 2017

Grapefruit is a yellow-orange colored sub-tropical fruit, which belongs to the group of citrus fruits and tastes sweet and sour. Grapefruit is known for its health benefits due to its rich Vitamin –C and pectin contents. However, grapefruit could be damaging to your heart if you are taking it along with prescribed medicines for heart disease. Grapefruit is known to cause serious interactions with drugs prescribed for people with heart diseases.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, grapefruit has nutrients called Phyto-Furanocoumarins, which inhibit the production of an enzyme known as Cytochrome P450 CYP3A4. Cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 is responsible for the metabolism (breakdown) of certain drugs. Therefore, when the levels of Cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 decrease as a result of grapefruit consumption, the concentration of certain drugs could increase to dangerous levels and trigger serious side effects.

Grapefruit could also have an effect on drug transport rather than metabolism. Substances in grapefruit are known to inhibit a specific group of drug transporting proteins, which move the drugs into cells for absorption. Inhibition of the drug transporters will have the effect of not enough drugs being transported and subsequently absorbed, potentially making the drug ineffective. An example of this interaction is with Fexofenadine, an anti-histamine commonly used to relieve allergy symptoms.

A publication in the Canadian Medical Association Journal by Dr. Bailey and fellow scientists identified more than 85 drugs that are known to have an interaction with grapefruit; out of these, 43 drugs can cause serious, sometimes fatal side effects when taken along with grapefruit. The possible serious effects of grapefruit-drug interaction are a renal failure, complete heart block, bone marrow dysfunction, and respiratory failure.

The middle-aged and elderly people are more susceptible to grapefruit- drug interactions because, in many cases, people of this age group are on medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart diseases. This group should, therefore, limit their grapefruit intake.

In a study conducted on ten healthy volunteers, effects of a grapefruit when consumed with a cardiovascular drug named diltiazem (calcium channel blocker) were studied. It was noted that consumption of 250ml grapefruit juice doubled the blood concentration of diltiazem. A similar study was conducted to study the interaction between grapefruit juice and cardiovascular drugs, which showed that a glass of grapefruit can double the plasma concentrations of these drugs. The cardiovascular drugs which are known for their drug interaction with grapefruit include:

  • Drugs for heart rhythm disorders (amidodaren, dronedarone, and quinidine)
  • Anti-clotting drugs (apixaban, rivaroxaban, and ticagrelor)
  • Drugs to control high blood cholesterol (statins)
  • Anti-angina drugs (felodipine and nifedipine)

Additionally, some organ transplant rejection drugs like cyclosporines as well as antihistamines, such as Fexofenadine, could cause serious adverse reactions.

The British Medical Journal of Clinical Pharmacology has reported that drug interactions with grapefruit can last for more than 72 hours of its consumption along with drugs, and the risk of having adverse drug interaction increases two times when grapefruit is consumed along with or within 4 hours of taking a drug. It is beneficial to keep in mind that grapefruit consumed hours before taking a medicine could still have adverse effects on health.

Grapefruit by itself is beneficial for cardiac health and does not pose any potential health risks until it is combined with certain drugs. Since grapefruit is known to exert its effects on drugs for over 72 hours after consumption, it is important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any possible drug interaction of the prescribed drug with grapefruit to avoid serious outcomes.

References:

Bailey, D., Dresser, G., & Arnold, J. (2012). Grapefruit-medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences? Canadian Medical Association Journal, 309-316. DOI:10.1503 /cmaj.120951

Grapefruit, Review of natural Products, Facts and comparisons [database online],St.Louis,     MO: Wolters Kluwer health; February 2011

Interaction between Grapefruit juice and cardiovascular drugs. David G Bailey, George K Dresser. American Journal of Cardiovascular drugs

Grape fruit juice- drug interactions. David J Bailey, J Maleom and J David Sperce: British Journal of clinical pharmacology, 46(2): 101-10

Co-administration of grapefruit juice increase systemic exposure of diltizem in healthy volunteer. Eur J clin pharmacol.2002 Nov; 58(8).515-20,Epub 2002 Oct 16

(n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM292839.pdf

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Krish Tangella MD, MBA

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