If you’re a big fan of grapefruit like I am, you can ask your provider about switching to another statin that doesn’t have this risk, like rosuvastatin or pravastatin. Also, avoid excess alcohol use, as this may cause serious liver problems. Grapefruit: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can cause atorvastatin and simvastatin to build up in the blood, so it’s best to avoid grapefruit while taking these drugs. The investigators suggest that the reductions in cholesterol and heart disease risk are greater than the harms. Simvastatin and lovastatin are increased by 260 percent. You should avoid large quantities of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which can increase the risk of serious side effects. Researchers calculated that taking atorvastatin with grapefruit juice increases blood levels by about 80 percent ( American Journal of Medicine, Jan. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new prescription if it interacts with any foods or other medicines. When a person takes certain statins with grapefruit, their blood concentrations of the drug can become several times higher than the normal concentrations of others taking statins. A: While taking atorvastatin ( Lipitor ), avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol foods as part of your overall treatment. For example, numerous citrus-flavored soft drinks contain grapefruit juice or grapefruit extract. The list of medications that can interact with grapefruit includes commonly prescribed medications that:Īnother potential problem is that some foods and drinks may contain grapefruit but don't say so in the name or on the ingredients list. On the other hand, a medication that stays in the body too long may build up to potentially dangerous levels. A medication that's broken down too quickly won't have time to work. As a result, the medication may stay in your body for too short or too long a time. Problems arise because chemicals in the fruit can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the medication in your digestive system. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor if there's a comparable medication you can take that doesn't interact with grapefruit. For example, grapefruit can increase atorvastatin (among many medications) and decrease fexofenadine. Prescribers, pharmacists, direct-to-consumer advertising, and patient leaflets mention grapefruit-induced drug interactions with a variety of common medications. This can increase the risk of side effects such as liver damage and a rare but serious. There is more to the grapefruit drug interaction than eating one kind of fruit. Simply taking your medication and grapefruit product at different times doesn't stop the interaction. Grapefruit contains a compound known as furanocoumarin, which deactivates an enzyme that breaks down certain drugs, including statins. Grapefruit juice can increase the blood levels of atorvastatin. You may need to eliminate grapefruit products from your diet.
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