Other medications are moved into the body’s cells by means of transporter proteins. This can lead to an overdose, which can be fatal. With some medications, the active compound in grapefruit juice (bergamottin) prevents the enzymes in the small intestine from doing their job, leading to a higher dose of the medication being absorbed by the body. In other words, it can either result in the drug not working at all or it can cause the drug to be too potent, which can lead to devastating side effects either way. Grapefruit May Increase or Decrease Drug Potencyĭepending on the type of medication, grapefruit has the ability to either weaken or strengthen its pharmacological action.

The FDA has recently issued a reminder that Grapefruit is one fruit that has the ability to interact with many prescription medications and according to a study one in five Americans eat or drink Grapefruit every day for breakfast. Some of these interactions may have minor side effects, but unfortunately, others may cause side effects, which can be life threatening, or even fatal. While it is recommended to eat a few servings of fruit each day, it is also important to note that certain fruits can interfere with the pharmacological action of certain medications. Fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet.

Grapefruit and medications