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can you drink grapefruit juice if you take metformin

by Dr. Pearline Collins III Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

The FDA requires these medications to include a warning to people consuming grapefruit while taking the drug. Metformin does not carry this warning, and there is no evidence to suggest that grapefruit can interact with metformin.

Can you eat grapefruit while taking metformin?

However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that eating grapefruit can affect the use of metformin. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn against eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice when taking certain medications.

Does grapefruit affect metformin?

This suggests that drinking grapefruit juice may have an additive affect if you're also taking metformin. The result could cause your blood sugar to drop too low. For this reason, it's best to avoid grapefruit if you're prescribed metformin.

What drugs interact with grapefruit juice?

  • lovastatin ( Mevacor ),
  • atorvastatin ( Lipitor ),
  • simvastatin Zocor,
  • simvastatin/ ezetimibe ( Vytorin)

What medicines don't work with grapefruit?

Don’t drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking any of these medications, unless advised to by your doctor:

  • Some statins ( cholesterol-lowering drugs): lovastatin ( Mevacor ), atorvastatin ( Lipitor ), simvastatin ( Zocor ). ...
  • Antihistamines: fexofenadine (Allegra)
  • Some type of calcium channel blockers ( blood pressure drugs ): felodipine ( Plendil ), nifedipine ( Adalat, Afeditab CR, Procardia)
  • Certain psychiatric drugs: buspirone , triazolam ( Halcion ), carbamazepine ( Tegretol ), diazepam ( Valium ), midazolam ( Versed ), sertraline ( Zoloft)
  • Some immunosuppressants: cyclosporine ( Neoral ), tacrolimus ( Prograf)
  • Certain pain medications: methadone
  • The impotence drug (erectile dysfunction): sildenafil (Viagra)
  • Some HIV medication: saquinavir ( Invirase)
  • Some antiarrhythmics: amiodarone ( Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone)

What happens if you eat grapefruit while taking metformin?

Researchers guessed that grapefruit juice enhanced metformin accumulation in the liver. This, in turn, caused the increase in lactic acid production. Because of this, the researchers suggested that drinking grapefruit juice may lead to an increased risk of lactic acidosis in people taking metformin.

What medications should not be taken with grapefruit?

Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine). Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Neoral and Sandimmune capsule or oral solution (both cyclosporine).

Is grapefruit good for diabetes 2?

Low glycemic index Grapefruit is low on the glycemic index, coming in at 25. This means that eating grapefruit won't spike your blood sugar quickly, and can be fairly easy to dose insulin for. A 2013 study even found that eating grapefruit is significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Does grapefruit lower blood sugar?

Grapefruit may not boost your metabolism but it does dramatically lower blood sugar levels. This in turn suppresses the appetite and reduces LDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, grapefruit is rich in fiber, a nutrient that helps you feel full after eating and keeps your digestive system in good working order.

Is grapefruit juice good for your kidneys?

Animal proteins also contain phosphates, another factor that may raise the risk of kidney stones. Drink Florida Grapefruit Juice – along with other citrus beverages, grapefruit juice has citrate, which may help prevent kidney stones.

Does grapefruit juice spike blood sugar?

These studies showed that grapefruit juice lowered blood sugar as effectively as metformin, a drug widely used for diabetes.

What medication is replacing metformin?

Alternative optionsPrandin (repaglinide) ... Canagliflozin (Invokana) ... Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) ... Empagliflozin (Jardiance) ... Actos (pioglitazone) ... Herbal options.

What is the benefit of taking metformin at night?

The administration of metformin, as glucophage retard, at bedtime instead of supper time may improve diabetes control by reducing morning hyperglycemia.

Why is metformin removed from the market?

market. This is because an unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) was found in some extended-release metformin tablets. If you currently take this drug, call your healthcare provider.

What is metformin used for?

Doctors prescribe metformin as a first-line treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. Metformin works by helping to lower a person’s blood sugar levels. Doctors sometimes also recommend metformin treatment for people with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Is grapefruit juice good for you?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are good sources of potassium and vitamin C, which are both essential nutrients for good health. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn against eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice when taking certain medications.

Is grapefruit juice safe for Metformin?

Although grapefruit and grapefruit juice are healthful and nutritious, compounds in them can affect the safety or effectiveness of a wide range of medications. The FDA requires these medications to include a warning to people consuming grapefruit while taking the drug. Metformin does not carry this warning, and there is no evidence to suggest ...

Can grapefruit affect metformin?

However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that eating grapefruit can affect the use of metformin. Doctors prescribe metformin as a first-line treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.

Does grapefruit juice help with drug absorption?

Drug absorption. Grapefruit juice also contains flavonoids, including naringin and hesperidin. Research shows that these flavonoids can block a protein called organic anion transporter polypeptide, or OATP. This protein helps the body move drugs into cells.

Is grapefruit good for diabetes?

Although grapefruit contains sugar, there is some evidence to suggest that consuming this fruit may be good for people with diabetes. Researchers do not fully understand why, but compounds in grapefruit may help lower blood sugar levels. In a 2014 study. Trusted Source.

Can grapefruit be used with prescriptions?

Answers from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. Yes. Grapefruit and certain other citrus fruits, such as Seville oranges, can interfere with several kinds of prescription medications. Don't take these interactions lightly. Some can cause potentially dangerous health problems. If you take prescription medication, ask with your doctor or pharmacist whether your medication interacts with grapefruit or other citrus products. You may need to eliminate grapefruit products from your diet. Simply taking your medication and grapefruit product at different times doesn't stop the interaction. Alternately, you can ask your doctor if there's a comparable medication you can take that doesn't interact with grapefruit. Problems arise because chemicals in the fruit can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the medication in your digestive system. As a result, the medication may stay in your body for too short or too long a time. A medication that's broken down too quickly won't have time to work. On the other hand, a medication that stays in the body too long may build up to potentially dangerous levels. The list of medications that can interact with grapefruit includes commonly prescribed medicines that: Continue reading >>

Is grapefruit juice safe to eat?

Subscribe: FDA Consumer Health Information Download PDF (190 K) Grapefruit juice and the actual grapefruit can be part of a healthy diet. Grapefruit has vitamin C and potassium—nutrients your body needs to work properly. But it isn’t good for you when it affects the way your medicines work, especially if you have high blood pressure or arrhythmia (irregular or abnormal heart beat). This food and drug interaction can be a concern, says Shiew Mei Huang, PhD, of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has required that some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs taken by mouth include warnings against drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking the drug, Huang says. Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems with (interact): Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine). Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Sandimmune and Neoral (both cyclosporine). Some anti-anxiety drugs, such as buspirone. Some corticosteroids that treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, such as Entocort EC and Uceris (both budesonide). Some drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as Pacerone and Nexterone (both amiodarone). Some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine). Grapefruit juice does not affect all the drugs in the categories above. The severity of the interaction can be different depending on the person, the drug, and the amount of grapefruit juice you drink. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider and read any information provided with your prescription or OTC drug to find out: If your specific drug may be affected. How much, if a Continue reading >>

Does grapefruit juice help with diabetes?

Report that grapefruit juice may protect against type 2 diabetes misleading NHS Recent reports in the press that grapefruit juice may be helpful for people trying to lose weight and in turn prevent type 2 diabetes have been labelled misleading and irresponsible by the NHS. A number of UK newspapers reported on the study by researchers at the University of California, published in PLOS One . The Daily Telegraph reported that the study on mice found a lower rate of weight for those on a combination of a high-fat diet and grapefruit juice, compared to mice fed a sugary drink. Their blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity were found to be better regulated than mice that did not drink grapefruit juice. In humans, reduced insulin sensitivity can be a sign of impending diabetes, however the tests on mice found that drinking grapefruit juice improved insulin sensitivity in mice, regardless of their diet. Grapefruit juice lowered blood sugar as effectively as metformin , a drug widely used to treat people with type 2 diabetes. However, none of the mice actually had type 2 diabetes, so the research had little immediate relevance to humans with the condition. People with type 2 diabetes and other medical conditions should be careful when considering adding grapefruit juice to their diet, and should first read the patient information leaflet of any medication being taken. Grapefruit juice has been known to increase the levels of medication in the blood , which can be potentially dangerous. Some of the medicines affected are statins,amiodarone (for irregular heartbeats), Viagra (sildenafil), sertraline,diazepam and calcium channel blockers. NHS Behind The Headlines advised that for the time being, people with diabetes should not swap their metformin for grapefruit juice on the b Continue reading >>

Can grapefruit affect metformin?

However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that eating grapefruit can affect the use of metformin.

Is grapefruit juice safe?

Although grapefruit and grapefruit juice are healthful and nutritious, compounds in them can affect the safety or effectiveness of a wide range of medications. The FDA requires these medications to include a warning to people consuming grapefruit while taking the drug.

Can grapefruit interfere with metformin?

113. It says in your link: 'eating grapefruit may interfere with the effectiveness of metformin. So it’s best to avoid grapefruit (which you should be doing now, to help reverse the disease in the first place)'.

Does carbs raise your BG?

Carbs in general will raise your bg. There is a lot of sugar in grapefruit juice and possible in other of the food items you have for breakfast like bread or milk so a rise in BG is to be expected. I usually have eggs and such for breakfast and it doesn't move my BG at all. Like x 2. #2 Totto, 6y 20w ago.

How does grapefruit juice affect drugs?

How Grapefruit Juice Affects Some Drugs. When drugs are swallowed, they may be broken down (metabolized) by enzymes and/or absorbed using transporters in cells found in the small intestine. Grapefruit juice can cause problems with these enzymes and transporters, causing too much or too little drug in the body.

Can you take fexofenadine with apple juice?

Fexofenadine (brand name Allegra) is available as both prescription and OTC to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies. Fexofenadine may also not work as well if taken with orange or apple juice, so the drug label says, “ Do not take with fruit juices.”.

Does grapefruit juice help with cholesterol?

As shown above, grapefruit juice can block the action of these enzymes, increasing the amount of drug in the body and may cause more side effects. Other drugs, like fexofenadine, are moved by transporters into the body’s cells.

Can grapefruit juice cause kidney failure?

For example, if you drink a lot of grapefruit juice while taking certain statin drugs to lower cholesterol, too much of the drug may stay in your body, increasing your risk for liver and muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure.

Does grapefruit juice affect antihistamines?

Some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine). Grapefruit juice does not affect all the drugs in the categories above. The severity of the interaction can be different depending on the person, the drug, and the amount of grapefruit juice you drink. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist, and read any information provided ...

Does grapefruit juice affect blood pressure?

Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems (interact) with: Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine).

Can you drink grapefruit juice while taking a prescription?

Food and Drug Administration has required that some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs generally taken by mouth include warnings against drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking the drug . Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems (interact) with:

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