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Grapefruit & Medication Interactions

Grapefruit and medication interactions: FDA says grapefruit juice and grapefruit can affect how some statins, blood pressure medicines and transplant drugs work. Ask your pharmacist.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

What FDA says

Grapefruit can affect how some medicines work. Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs taken by mouth carry warnings against grapefruit juice or grapefruit. [1]

Examples named by FDA

  • Some statins (Zocor/simvastatin, Lipitor/atorvastatin).
  • Blood pressure medicines such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat CC).
  • Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune).
  • Also buspirone, budesonide, amiodarone and fexofenadine (Allegra). [1]

Not every medicine in a class

Grapefruit does not affect all medicines in these categories. Severity depends on the person, the drug and the amount. For some drugs, such as fexofenadine, absorption can be lowered instead. Ask your pharmacist or doctor or check the labeling. [1]

Related

Citrus fruits · Functional food safety · Interactions by drug class

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink grapefruit juice with my medicine?

Ask a pharmacist; some medicines warn against it. [1]

References

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs Don't Mix. Summarized from a search result; check the page for the current text.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.