The NHS has issued an urgent warning to millions of patients in the UK: avoid grapefruit and its juice when taking common medications like statins, amlodipine, and anti-anxiety drugs. The fruit can trigger dangerous interactions that dramatically increase drug levels in the bloodstream, potentially causing severe complications including kidney damage and muscle breakdown.
The interaction occurs because grapefruit blocks crucial enzymes and transport proteins in the digestive system, specifically CYP3A4 and P-gp. These normally break down and regulate how much medication enters the bloodstream. When grapefruit inhibits them, excessive amounts of the drug flood the body. The NHS website warns for amlodipine: «Having large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice can increase how much amlodipine is in your body and make side effects worse.»
Affected Medications
The warning covers widely prescribed drugs across multiple categories. Statins affected include Simvastatin, Atorvastatin, and Lovastatin. Blood pressure medications include amlodipine (sold as Istin), Diltiazem, Verapamil, Carvedilol, and Amiodarone. Anti-anxiety drugs on the list are Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium), and Midazolam (Versed).
Other medication types include anti-blood-clotting drugs like Warfarin and Clopidogrel (Plavix), organ transplant medications such as Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus, the antihistamine Fexofenadine (Allegra), erectile dysfunction drug Sildenafil (Viagra), and HIV/AIDS medications including Ritonavir.
The NHS advises: «Do not take amlodipine with grapefruit juice.» For statins, the guidance states: «Grapefruit juice can affect some statins and increase your risk of side effects. A doctor may advise you to avoid it completely or only consume small quantities.»
Critical Guidance for Patients
The warning extends beyond just grapefruit. Patients should also avoid Seville oranges, pomelos, and limes. Crucially, avoidance must last the entire treatment duration, not just avoiding simultaneous consumption. The NHS states: «If you are affected, you may have to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking amlodipine.»
Patients must consult their doctor or pharmacist before making any medication or dietary changes. They should carefully read medication labels and information leaflets for warnings about grapefruit. Not all medications react identically to grapefruit juice, making individual medical consultation essential.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
