Don't use fruit juices to wash down prescription drugs

Don’t use fruit juices to wash down prescription drugs

Remember that warning that certain drugs should not be taken with grapefruit juice?

New research shows that it’s probably best to avoid washing down drugs with ANY type of fruit juice.

About 20 years ago, a Canadian research team was trying to figure out a way to mask the taste of alcohol in order to conduct a placebo-controlled trial of alcohol’s effect on a blood pressure drug. While testing several beverages, they accidentally discovered that grapefruit juice raised blood levels of the medication.

Oddly, further research showed that grapefruit juice had the opposite effect on some other drugs, reducing their absorption into the blood stream.

Last month, the leader of that Canadian team, David G. Bailey, Ph.D., reported on a new trial in which grapefruit juice reduced the absorption of an antihistamine drug. In addition, orange, and apple juices were shown to reduce absorption of several drugs, including certain beta blockers, antibiotics, and a drug that helps prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Dr. Bailey told Ivanhoe Newswire that further research will probably add more drugs to the list.

Source:
“Fruit Juices Hamper Drugs’ Benefits” Ivanhoe Newswire, 8/20/08, ivanhoe.com