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Why no grapefruit juice while on calcium channel blockers?

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Why no grapefruit juice while on calcium channel blockers?

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10

Good question: grapefruit juice blocks an enzyme produced by your liver that normally breaks down calcium channel blockers (CCBS) and lots of other medications, such as Lipitor. By blocking that enzyme, the CCB is not metabolized (broken down) as quickly as it normally is. The result if you have higher blood concentrations of the drug, which can amplify it’s effect and make the drug’s effects more pronounced. This could cause light headedness especially on standing, a further drop in blood pressure, increased fluid retention in the arms or legs, etc. The effect of grapefruit juice on CCBs in particular is modest (it can increase blood levels by about 15%). However, to my knowledge, this has minimal, if any “clinical” implications- meaning, you’re not any more likely to have an adverse effect since 15% isn’t that big an increase. If you want to have a glass of grapefruit juice every day, I seriously doubt it would do any harm at all. Just know that the enzyme-blocking effect of grapefru

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