Q: Doug, there is some concern over a person taking some medications along with fruit juices…what’s the issue?
A: Yes, this can be an issue...the good news is that it is only grapefruit juices that are of concern, other fruit juices are not a problem. The issue with grapefruit and grapefruit juice is that they can interfere with an enzyme system within our body that can actually cause a change in the amount of drug being utilized. This is of great concern for people taking statin drugs for lowering cholesterol...examples are Lipitor, Mevacor, and Zocor.

Q: Is it OK to have grapefruit once in awhile?
A: Original studies showed that the interaction was just 2-4 hours after ingesting grapefruit, but recent studies show that the interaction may last up to seven days! In order to by safe, it is suggested that a person avoid grapefruit while one their medication and enjoy an alternate fruit juice! As always, you can ask your friendly, knowledgeable Cub Pharmacist if having grapefruit would be an issue with your medication!

From Cub Pharmacies