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Juice can reduce effects of medication, study finds

SHERYL UBELACKER

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 9:14 AM EST 20/08/08

Grapefruit, orange and apple juices shown to dramatically decrease body's ability to absorb certain drugs ...Read the full article

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  1. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: No more wake and bake.
  2. Bob Duvan from Canada writes: This isn't a new discovery - I remember relating such a report to a family member about 3 1/2 years ago. Rather than re-cycling old news it would be more useful to have some more details of practical value such as how much time you should wait between taking your vitamin C intake and your medication or whether it should be in the reverse order.
  3. S Chakravorty from Canada writes: We already know this. In fact when I was a child I heard my mother say that you are not supposed to take medicines with juice etc. She would always ensure we took our meds with water.
  4. Michele K from Ottawa, Canada writes: Funny, when I checked out my ACE inhibitor after reading this article, the instructions RECOMMEND mashing the pills into applesauce (if you have trouble swallowing) or taking with apple juice .

    So let's not go overboard here just yet - yes, some drugs some people take for serious diseases are affected, but not every drug is.
  5. p m from Canada writes: Mr. Bailey said patients should check with their doctor or pharmacist before taking a drug with grapefruit or other fruits and juices. As a general rule, he suggests avoiding consumption for about four hours before and after taking a pill.

    It's the PRACTISE of medicine!!

    They haven't researched it and they really don't know...they are , as usual, flying blind. They only know about upsettign the stomach for some strong ddrugs..hence..take after meals advice..but the hard core real effects...they really don't know...

    I will be glad when they tell me that the juices can replace some of the medicines
  6. Mike Witcher from Montreal, Canada writes: Yes Bob Duvan this is indeed really old news.
    It has been known for many years that there are molecules in Grapefruit juice can modulate the metabolism of drugs.
    In fact there's so much data out there on this topic that a review has been written about it (includes section on grapefruit juice).
    Life Sci. 2004 Jan 9;74(8):935-68. Herbal bioactivation: the good, the bad and the ugly.

    This Canadian study is a waste of time and money. The problem is that funding agencies agree to fund safe, tired old garbage like this but are more reluctant to fund novel ideas that are risky but may push the envelope of our knowledge.
  7. David Gibson from Hamilton, Canada writes: Duh. Grapefruit juice has a significant effect on a list of medications, including blood pressure meds, Seldane, certain AIDS drugs, and others. These things are documented. Search engine is your friend. Try: 'medication grapefruit.'
  8. Michele K from Ottawa, Canada writes: I think the point some of you are missing is that while the problem with grapefruit juice has been known for some time (though to what extent?), orange and apple juice have not been implicated before.
  9. Mike Witcher from Montreal, Canada writes: My attempt to post failed....so annoying.

    Michele, actually (I apologize for contradicting you) there are hundreds of published studies examining the effects of grapefruit juice on drug metabolism over the course of the last 20 years.
    There are also numerous studies on the effects of orange juice and apple juice on drug metabolism. I tried to post a link to some of these studies but the post never showed up. Oh well, too much work to do again.
    While the influence of all juices on all drugs hasn't been studied this study isn't really novel at all.
  10. Steven Chang from Rotterdam, Netherlands writes: Very interesting article. Grapefruit changes the absorption of meds, I already knew this. But I thought it would increase the absorption, not decrease. Or make the drugs stay in body longer or at higher concentrations.

    http://www.treat-cancer.nl/
  11. Velma from Burlington from Etobicoke, Canada writes: Interesting. One medication I take has a warning label not to drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit while taking it. Another advises me to drink a full glass of orange juice or eat a banana daily while taking it.

    Usually I take my meds in the morning with orange juice, and the other pill I have to take with dinner, I usually drink water.

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