Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and are also low in calories and high in fibre, which makes them the perfect food to help you feel full and satisfied while also providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function optimally.

And while we all know this to be true, we should also be aware that certain fruits can have an opposite effect on the body's absorption of certain medications.

Yes, you read that right, folks! According to Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, eating grapefruit or drinking its juice can interfere with how certain medications are absorbed by the body!

In a TikTok video, the doctor shared his findings concerning the risks associated with eating grapefruit.

​

Studies have shown that consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice in combination with certain oral medications, such as antivirals, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and even Viagra, can actually increase how quickly they are metabolised in the body by up to three times!

Additionally, grapefruit can reduce the concentration of medications such as cancer medications, beta blockers, and antibiotics in our bloodstream.

Other medications that our body could quickly metabolise upon consuming grapefruit include the following:

Fexofenadine (Allegra), which is used to treat allergies
Buspirone (Buspar) and sertraline (Zoloft), which are used to treat depression and anxiety
Sildenafil (Viagra), which is used to treat erectile dysfunction
Nifedipine (Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), and nisoldipine (Sular), which are used to treat high blood pressure
Atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor), which are used to treat high cholesterol
Saquinavir (Invirase), which is used to treat HIV
Erythromycin, primaquine, and quinine, which are used to treat infections
Amiodarone (Cordarone), which is used to treat an irregular heartbeat
Cyclosporine and tacrolimus (Prograf), which are used to prevent organ transplant rejection

You should never consume grapefruit while taking certain medications, according to researcher Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki. Credit: TikTok/@drkarl.

However, he added that this only occurs when the drug is taken orally, such as through capsules or orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs).

Discovering grapefruit has not-so-great effects on our health has actually been around since as early as 1991 when a Canadian doctor published research on the fruit’s impact on blood pressure medications.

TikTok users were appalled by the revelation, with many sharing their experiences about how their GPs warned them about consuming the fruit when being prescribed medication.

One person said: 'My OCP (oral contraceptive lozenge) has grapefruit listed on the information pamphlet as a possible conflict- no further grapefruit for breakfast I am hysterical.'

'My psychiatrist advised me about grapefruits,' another shared.

A third chimed in: 'I am not allowed to eat it- on anticoagulants for life.'

Key Takeaways

• Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has revealed that eating grapefruit (or drinking grapefruit juice) can affect how certain medications are metabolised in the body.
• Grapefruit can increase the blood levels of certain medications, including antivirals, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and Viagra, whilst decreasing the blood levels of other medications, such as anti-cancer drugs, beta blockers, and antibiotics.
• It is important to consult your doctor if you are unsure about potential interactions between grapefruit and the medications you are taking.

Considering all of this new information, it’s safe to say it’s best to check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure grapefruit or any other of your regular dietary sources won’t interfere with your medications.

If your doctor hasn’t mentioned anything about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice, it might still be beneficial to avoid it altogether - just to be on the safe side.

And please, share this article with your friends and family so that they’re aware of the potential risks of grapefruit interactions with medications. After all, knowledge is power!

Stay safe out there, folks!

 

[RhodaStarr]

I agree on anticoagulation medicines for Atrial Fibrillation. Grapefruit is a definite No No. Also some leafy green vegetables in large quantities. Never take any medication without asking your Dr about the consequences and reactions of food. Also, your pharmacist can print out information on any medication you may be taking. I am a retired RN and this is very important to ask these questions.

 

[freedy50]

That is incorrect!
There is more potassium in many other foods other than the humble banana!
Avoid POTASSIUM SUPLEMENTS! Not food! Your body needs potassium to thrive! Ask any dietitian!
or look at www.healthdirect.gov.au/foods-high-in-potassium

This is what it says on my blood pressure pills. I'll take notice of my doctor. And it mentions it on that article anyway.

 

[freedy50]

This is what it says on my blood pressure pills. I'll take notice of my doctor. And it mentions it on that article anyway.

That is incorrect!
There is more potassium in many other foods other than the humble banana!
Avoid POTASSIUM SUPLEMENTS! Not food! Your body needs potassium to thrive! Ask any dietitian!
or look at www.healthdirect.gov.au/foods-high-in-potassium

This is the other sticker on my pills.

 

[Dinosaur]

It may be a fact that bananas contain potassium, but so do many other fruits and vegetables! The general advice is to not take potassium, as in POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTS! Bananas contain between 380 and 420 mg potassium, about 12% of a recommended daily value. You'd have to have to binge on bananas before you had any adverse effect!

Sandy m just repeating what my pharmacist said.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I love fresh squeezed grapefruit juice in the morning but had to stoo when needing certain medication.
makes sense, if you are lacking Iron then to help your body absorb it they say have vitamin C before eating the food item that has iron , the vitamin C will help your body absorb the iron

 

[NANNA4B]

Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and are also low in calories and high in fibre, which makes them the perfect food to help you feel full and satisfied while also providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function optimally.

And while we all know this to be true, we should also be aware that certain fruits can have an opposite effect on the body's absorption of certain medications.

Yes, you read that right, folks! According to Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, eating grapefruit or drinking its juice can interfere with how certain medications are absorbed by the body!

In a TikTok video, the doctor shared his findings concerning the risks associated with eating grapefruit.

​

Studies have shown that consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice in combination with certain oral medications, such as antivirals, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and even Viagra, can actually increase how quickly they are metabolised in the body by up to three times!

Additionally, grapefruit can reduce the concentration of medications such as cancer medications, beta blockers, and antibiotics in our bloodstream.

Other medications that our body could quickly metabolise upon consuming grapefruit include the following:

Fexofenadine (Allegra), which is used to treat allergies
Buspirone (Buspar) and sertraline (Zoloft), which are used to treat depression and anxiety
Sildenafil (Viagra), which is used to treat erectile dysfunction
Nifedipine (Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), and nisoldipine (Sular), which are used to treat high blood pressure
Atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor), which are used to treat high cholesterol
Saquinavir (Invirase), which is used to treat HIV
Erythromycin, primaquine, and quinine, which are used to treat infections
Amiodarone (Cordarone), which is used to treat an irregular heartbeat
Cyclosporine and tacrolimus (Prograf), which are used to prevent organ transplant rejection

You should never consume grapefruit while taking certain medications, according to researcher Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki. Credit: TikTok/@drkarl.

However, he added that this only occurs when the drug is taken orally, such as through capsules or orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs).

Discovering grapefruit has not-so-great effects on our health has actually been around since as early as 1991 when a Canadian doctor published research on the fruit’s impact on blood pressure medications.

TikTok users were appalled by the revelation, with many sharing their experiences about how their GPs warned them about consuming the fruit when being prescribed medication.

One person said: 'My OCP (oral contraceptive lozenge) has grapefruit listed on the information pamphlet as a possible conflict- no further grapefruit for breakfast I am hysterical.'

'My psychiatrist advised me about grapefruits,' another shared.

A third chimed in: 'I am not allowed to eat it- on anticoagulants for life.'

Key Takeaways

• Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has revealed that eating grapefruit (or drinking grapefruit juice) can affect how certain medications are metabolised in the body.
• Grapefruit can increase the blood levels of certain medications, including antivirals, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and Viagra, whilst decreasing the blood levels of other medications, such as anti-cancer drugs, beta blockers, and antibiotics.
• It is important to consult your doctor if you are unsure about potential interactions between grapefruit and the medications you are taking.

Considering all of this new information, it’s safe to say it’s best to check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure grapefruit or any other of your regular dietary sources won’t interfere with your medications.

If your doctor hasn’t mentioned anything about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice, it might still be beneficial to avoid it altogether - just to be on the safe side.

And please, share this article with your friends and family so that they’re aware of the potential risks of grapefruit interactions with medications. After all, knowledge is power!

Stay safe out there, folks!

Also epilepsy medication such as tegotol grape fruit is a definite no!

 

[Elbe]

Not heard that fact about Bananas before, my favorite food / fruit, damn will have to go back to chocolate as my favorite food source.

No need to give up completely - my doctor says 2 or 3 bananas a week is fine, just not daily since putting me in BP meds