Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice can affect some medicines. In most cases, it increases the level of the medicine in your blood. This can increase the risk of side effects or alter the effect that the medicine has.
If your usual diet includes grapefruit or grapefruit juice, and you’ve been prescribed a medicine that’s affected by grapefruit, speak to your GP or pharmacist. Do not stop taking your medication without advice.
Some medicines affected by grapefruit are listed below, although there may be others that aren’t mentioned. You can use the Medicines A-Z index to find out more about a specific medicine.
Medicines affected by grapefruit
Statins
Statins are medicines that lower your cholesterol. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice affects some statins.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking simvastatin. Grapefruit juice increases the level of simvastatin in your blood and makes side effects more likely.
- Atorvastatin interacts with grapefruit juice if you drink large quantities, but an occasional glass is thought to be safe.
It is safe to drink grapefruit juice and eat grapefruit if you’re taking other types of statins.
Calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers are medicines that relax the muscles that make up the walls of your arteries. They’re used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease.
Grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers and increases the level of the medicine in your blood. If you’re taking any of the medicines below, avoid drinking large quantities though an occasional glass is safe:
- ramipril
- amlodipine
- felodipine
- isradipine
- lacidipine
- lercanidipine
- nicardipine
- nifedipine
- nimodipine
- verapamil
Grapefruit juice does not affect diltiazem.
Ciclosporin and immunosuppressants
Ciclosporin, sirolimus and tacrolimus are medicines that suppress your immune system (the body’s natural defence system). If you’re taking any of these medicines, do not drink grapefruit juice without consulting your doctor.
Entocort
Entocort is a medicine that contains budesonide and is used to treat Crohn’s disease, a condition that affects the digestive system. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you’re taking this medicine, as the level of budesonide in your blood will increase.
Cytotoxic medicines
Some medicines used in the treatment of cancers may interact with grapefruit juice.You should check with your doctor before drinking grapefruit juice.
Aliskiren
Aliskiren is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. Do not drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking aliskiren.
Getting advice
If you need advice about a medicine you’re taking, you can:
- speak to your GP or pharmacist
- call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (or 111 if available in your area)
Read the answers to more questions about medicines.
Further information:
