Grapefruit juice can affect how well some medicines work, and it may cause dangerous side effects. This food and drug interaction can be a concern, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Read the Consumer Update to learn more about grapefruit juice and medications
Grapefruit juice can affect how well some medicines work, and it may cause dangerous side effects.
Find Out if You Should Avoid Grapefruit or Other Juices
- Ask your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider if you can drink grapefruit juice while taking your medication.
- Read the medication guide or patient information sheet that comes with your prescription drug to find out if grapefruit juice affects your drug.
- Read the Drug Facts label on your OTC drug, which will say whether you shouldn’t have grapefruit or other fruit juices with it.
- If you must avoid grapefruit juice with your medicine, check the labels of fruit juices or drinks flavored with fruit juice to see whether they are made with grapefruit juice.
- Seville oranges (often used to make orange marmalade), pomelos, and tangelos (a cross between tangerines and grapefruit) may have the same effect as grapefruit juice. Do not eat those fruits if your medicine interacts with grapefruit juice.
This article appears on the FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
Updated: July 18, 2017
Published: February 22, 2012