Study reveals grapefruit can impact the effects of these common prescription pills

Storing and taking medicines is not always easy. Some need to be stored in the refrigerator and under a heat wave the effect of certain drugs can suffer. But there are also interactions to be avoided between certain pills.

It is reasonably well known that medications such as antidepressants or painkillers should not be taken with alcohol, and some antibiotics should not be taken with milk. Eating grapefruits can also be risky.

Grapefruits can even lead to an overdose

This citrus fruit is even a special case. Eating a tasty grapefruit can reduce the effect of medication in some cases. But often it is amplified, sometimes even doubled, and can thus lead to an accidental but dangerous overdose.

Several categories of drugs are affected: Antihistamines, cholesterol-lowering drugs, immunosuppressants, cancer drugs, painkillers, tranquilizers, as well as drugs for thyroid, cardiovascular and urinary tract diseases and those for the treatment of infections.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Mixing grapefruit with some medicines can cause serious health problems. If you take prescription medicines, ask a health care professional, such as a doctor or pharmacist, whether it's OK to eat grapefruit or other citrus products while taking the medicines.

Read more:These common foods can mess with your medicine intake

Grapefruits also interact with birth control pills

The so-called apple of paradise also alters the effect of estrogen-containing birth control pills. The naringin contained in grapefruits inhibits the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of drugs in the intestine.

With the pill, the active ingredient estradiol then enters the bloodstream in a greater concentration. This can lead to side effects such as breast tenderness or water retention. In rarer cases, the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and thrombosis can be increased.

If you take some of the medication mentioned in the article, you can talk to your GP to make sure you are keeping safe.

Read more:Study shows this miracle fruit could be the key to burning visceral fat

This article has been translated from Gentside DE.

Sources used:

Vital: Achtung: Diese beliebte Frucht kann die Wirkung der Pille beeinträchtigen

Zentrum der Gesundheit: Grapefruit und Medikamente

Onmeda: Riskante Kombination: Grapefruit und Medikamente

Mayo Clinic: I like to drink grapefruit juice. I hear that it can get in the way of some prescription medicines. Is that true?