“Under normal circumstances, the drugs are metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract, and relatively little is absorbed, because an enzyme in the gut called CYP3A4 deactivates them. But grapefruit contains natural chemicals called furanocoumarins, that inhibit the enzyme, and without it the gut absorbs much more of a drug and blood levels rise dramatically.”
“Taken with grapefruit, other drugs like fentanyl, oxycodone and methadone can cause fatal respiratory depression. The interaction also can be caused by other citrus fruits, including Seville oranges, limes and pomelos.”
In all my time consulting in surgery, I had never heard of this. I’ll need to do some further research.
People who abuse drugs already know about this. On one website I read about a man who was using grapefruit juice (he claimed with success) to cut his cost of using Viagra. Although his prescription of Viagra was legal, there were others experimenting with Loritab and other narcotic pain relievers.
Years ago I discovered that alcoholics sometimes use Zantac to enhance the effects of alcohol. Apparently, Zantac inhibits an enzyme the stomach uses to metabolize alcohol. I wonder what would happen if someone tried Zantac AND grapefruit juice with Viagra.
“Under normal circumstances, the drugs are metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract, and relatively little is absorbed, because an enzyme in the gut called CYP3A4 deactivates them. But grapefruit contains natural chemicals called furanocoumarins, that inhibit the enzyme, and without it the gut absorbs much more of a drug and blood levels rise dramatically.”
Science.
“Taken with grapefruit, other drugs like fentanyl, oxycodone and methadone can cause fatal respiratory depression. The interaction also can be caused by other citrus fruits, including Seville oranges, limes and pomelos.”
In all my time consulting in surgery, I had never heard of this. I’ll need to do some further research.
17% of Singaporeans are millionaires; in the U.S. it’s 1.7%.
Yet, the US is still considered more powerful than many other nations. Don’t these numbers show otherwise?
Energy drinks no better than a cup of coffee.
I never thought of coffee or energy drinks as good for your health at all. This article just reinforces my thinking. Good info.
People who abuse drugs already know about this. On one website I read about a man who was using grapefruit juice (he claimed with success) to cut his cost of using Viagra. Although his prescription of Viagra was legal, there were others experimenting with Loritab and other narcotic pain relievers.
Years ago I discovered that alcoholics sometimes use Zantac to enhance the effects of alcohol. Apparently, Zantac inhibits an enzyme the stomach uses to metabolize alcohol. I wonder what would happen if someone tried Zantac AND grapefruit juice with Viagra.
I wonder why they just don’t make the dosage smaller and then provide a chemical equivalent to grapefruit juice?