Researchers from Canada have published a narrative review (a review that discusses and summarises the literature on a particular topic) of grapefruit-medication interactions in the peer-reviewed Canadian Medical Association Journal. The researchers say that there are now 43 types of prescription medication that could cause serious side effects if taken with grapefruit (or grapefruit juice). The number of drugs that could potentially interact with grapefruit to cause serious adverse events has been increasing. However, the authors state that there is a general lack of knowledge about this interaction in the healthcare community, despite the fact that an interaction between grapefruit and certain medications was discovered more than 20 years ago. This can then trigger unpleasant, and sometimes serious, side effects. The chemical inhibits an enzyme that breaks down drugs, this can cause more ‘active’ drug to be present in the body than was intended with the given dose. It is already known that grapefruits contain a group of chemicals, furanocoumarins, which can affect drug metabolism – the amount of time it takes for a drug to be broken down by the body. The news is based on a review that has highlighted grapefruit-medication interactions that can cause serious side effects. “A breakfast of grapefruit and marmalade on toast could be lethal for people taking medication” is the headline in the Daily Mail.
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