Levels of atorvastatin increased by about 80%, regardless of the time taken, in the same study.īecause of this, it’s best to avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice consumption altogether while taking medications that could react to citrus fruits containing high levels of furanocoumarin, including grapefruit. When taken 12 hours apart, there was still a significant increase in blood levels-around 90%. Īccording to a 2016 review published in The American Journal of Medicine, a once-daily glass of grapefruit juice raised simvastatin and lovastatin blood levels by about 260% when taken at the same time. “The greatest hazards may come from consuming grapefruit repeatedly during the day, which can cause a further increase in blood levels of affected drugs,” says Morton Tavel, MD, a retired physician specialist and author of Health Tips, Myths and Tricks: A Physician’s Advice. In general, experts recommend avoiding grapefruit altogether while taking a statin. In turn, the liver increases LDL receptors, which pull LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream, and the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood decreases-reducing plaque build-up in the arteries and lowering the risk of heart disease and other related medical conditions.Ĭan I eat grapefruit in the morning and take Lipitor (atorvastatin) at night?īecause each person’s body and metabolism are different, it’s difficult to say how much grapefruit is safe while taking statins. Statin medications work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the liver responsible for making cholesterol. The plaque build-up also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. This leads to a build-up of plaque on the walls of your arteries, which can narrow them and make it difficult for blood to flow through. When you have high cholesterol, it means there’s too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) in your blood. RELATED: Statins: Uses, common brands, and safety info How do statins work? Read on to learn more about how statins work, their interaction with grapefruit, and what you can do to avoid problems. If you’re taking a statin to help lower your cholesterol levels, it’s important to understand the potential grapefruit interaction. This causes an increase in the levels of statins in the blood, which can increase the risk of side effects, most notably muscle problems. Grapefruit contains a chemical called furanocoumarin, which inhibits the enzyme that breaks down statins. While effective, one potential downside to statin drugs is their ability to interact with grapefruit. Statins are some of the most prescribed drugs in the United States, and they’re generally considered safe and effective. They work by inhibiting the enzyme in the liver responsible for making cholesterol, known as HMG-CoA reductase. Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels. How do statins work? | What happens if you eat grapefruit while on statins? | Which statins are safe with grapefruit? | Can I eat grapefruit in the morning and take Lipitor at night? | Other grapefruit-drug interactions
All rights reserved.Share on Facebook Facebook Logo Share on Twitter Twitter Logo Share on LinkedIn LinkedIn Logo Copy URL to clipboard Share Icon URL copied to clipboard Grapefruit juice should not be contraindicated in people taking statins.ĭrug interaction Effect enhancer Grapefruit juice Ischemic heart disease LDL cholesterol Statins.Ĭopyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. The increased rhabdomyolysis risk from grapefruit juice consumption due to the increased effective statin dose is minimal compared with the greater effect in preventing heart disease. If the juice is taken 12 hours before these statins, the reductions are, respectively, 43% and 66%, and for atorvastatin, 42% and 66%. When simvastatin or lovastatin are taken at the same time as grapefruit juice, the estimated reduction in LDL cholesterol is 48%, and in heart disease is 70%. Simvastatin 40 mg, lovastatin 40 mg, and atorvastatin 10 mg daily reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in a 60-year-old man with an LDL cholesterol of 4.8 mmol/L by 37%, reducing ischemic heart disease risk by 61%. A daily glass of grapefruit juice increases blood levels of simvastatin and lovastatin by about 260% if taken at the same time (about 90% if taken 12 hours apart), and atorvastatin by about 80% (whenever taken). We determined the validity of current medical advice to avoid grapefruit juice consumption while taking 3 widely used statins.
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