Thread: Help!!!!! Grapefruit

Originally Posted by avisk

Oh we were all SO sophisticated back then!!! If you served that now you would have to pretend it was ironic retro kitsch!!!

my parents always have prawn cocktail for a starter!

....if it was me i'd serve it in a babycham glass

Suprisingly, your tastes can really change over time! I now ALWAYS eat a grapefruit exactly the same way as I do an orange, with NO sweetener at all on ruby red, pink OR white ones - wouldn't have believed it possible not so long ago!!! Even better, Hubby can now eat them this way unless they are really sharp!

avisk, I think it would be fine to still eat grapeFRUIT whilst taking statins. I take Rosuvastatin, and my leaflet doesn't mention grapefruit at all, and Hubby takes Simvastatin, which says that "large volumes of grapefruit JUICE (more than 1 LITRE) - my caps - may have adverse effects, however typical consumption (one 250ml glass daily) is unlikely to cause problems".

It is such a pity to miss out on this valuable fruit, if it really is only quantities of the juice from a carton which may have an adverse effect. His recent tablet boxes have stated 'avoid consumption of grapefruit juice', but we have taken it to mean just that, and have had no 'adverse effects' - so far!!!

If you'd LIKE to continue to eat the fruit, I'd double check with your pharmacist or doctor as to what the warning actually means!

my dads on tablets for his heart and he's not allowed to eat grapefruit, stilton (probably any mouldy cheese) and a few other things.

Originally Posted by Roz V

Suprisingly, your tastes can really change over time! I now ALWAYS eat a grapefruit exactly the same way as I do an orange, with NO sweetener at all on ruby red, pink OR white ones - wouldn't have believed it possible not so long ago!!! Even better, Hubby can now eat them this way unless they are really sharp!

avisk, I think it would be fine to still eat grapeFRUIT whilst taking statins. I take Rosuvastatin, and my leaflet doesn't mention grapefruit at all, and Hubby takes Simvastatin, which says that "large volumes of grapefruit JUICE (more than 1 LITRE) - my caps - may have adverse effects, however typical consumption (one 250ml glass daily) is unlikely to cause problems".

It is such a pity to miss out on this valuable fruit, if it really is only quantities of the juice from a carton which may have an adverse effect. His recent tablet boxes have stated 'avoid consumption of grapefruit juice', but we have taken it to mean just that, and have had no 'adverse effects' - so far!!!

If you'd LIKE to continue to eat the fruit, I'd double check with your pharmacist or doctor as to what the warning actually means!

I do exactly the same and peel a grapefruit!! They are so refreshing-spesh the red ones! My favourite!!

Originally Posted by Roz V

. . . .
avisk, I think it would be fine to still eat grapeFRUIT whilst taking statins. I take Rosuvastatin, and my leaflet doesn't mention grapefruit at all, and Hubby takes Simvastatin, which says that "large volumes of grapefruit JUICE (more than 1 LITRE) - my caps - may have adverse effects, however typical consumption (one 250ml glass daily) is unlikely to cause problems".

I have been doing some research into this and have to say that I am more confused than ever! There is loads of information online, but of course, one needs to be careful as some of it is rather suspect! (Google simvastatin grapefruit and you will see what I mean!)

My simvastatin leaflet has a different warning to yours (but then the drug is made by various companies, so that is not unusual) - mine just says "You should avoid consuming grapefruit juice whilst taking simvastatin as this could increase your risk of muscle damage".

Some time ago I read an article in the Times (by Thomas Stuttaford, who for some time was The Times regular medical writer) which said this:

"One of our correspondents has e-mailed to ask why taking the life-saving Lipitor, one of the statins, means that he is not allowed to have grapefruit in the morning. It has been one of the minor pleasures of his life for years.
When doctors first told people that they should give up grapefruit patients were not certain whether they were joking, or had crossed the line between eccentricity and lunacy.
Grapefruit adversely affects the production of CYP3A4 in the small intestine. This enzyme is essential for the breakdown of a variety of drugs. If grapefruit has been taken Lipitor and several other of the most successful statins are inadequately metabolised by the body and as a result higher doses of statins circulate. These may cause serious muscle and kidney damage. The effects of grapefruit last in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours so it wouldn’t be advisable to have a half grapefruit even at supper rather than breakfast. Among other drugs affected by grapefruit juice are warfarin, Tegretol, Valium and Viagra. A few statins can be taken with grapefruit juice but not Lipitor, Zocor or Crestor. I would prefer to continue with Lipitor and have orange juice with my toast."

(Zocor is one of the trade names for simvastatin. Rosuvastatin is one of the statins which is NOT affected by grapefruit juice.)

When I read that, I decided that it would be a good idea to give up grapefruit altogether. But looking at other reputable sources on-line, maybe that was an overreaction?

So I think that I will definitely continue to avoid the juice, but if, very occasionally, I see a rather nice pink grapefruit in Waitrose I might treat myself! But I will share it with someone else and would eat it in the morning or at lunchtime and not in the evening (statins are taken in the evening).

Thank you very much for your input into this - I have learned something today!

I'm also much more worried now!

I ADORED Dr Stuttaford, and was really sad when he eventually retired as The Times doctor. I always believed every word he wrote - a bit like David Attenborough, if HE said pigs turned blue in the cold, I'd believe him! So Dr S. saying that Crestor is one of those statins where you SHOULD avoid grapefruit, and Rosuvastatin IS Crestor, I'm really unsure what to do now. I have a grapefruit almost daily, and have sometimes eaten 3 in a day...

As someone who has had many medical problems, including angina, 3 angiograms, 2 lots of angioplasty and 3 stents inserted, I MUST find the definitive answer to this! I'm still puzzled that the Crestor leaflet doesn't even MENTION grapefruit, but will find out what I can, and report back ASAP.

So glad that you posted avisk, there must be others who will be affected by this, especially as I believe that Simvastatin is the most widely used statin. I do so hope that we will all be able to continue to enjoy our grapefruits, especially as they are a super-speed fruit!

Oh dear, what have I started!!! Said it was confusing.

According to this:

Statins And Grapefruit - Statins and Grapefruit Drug Interactions

Statins and Grapefruit - Potential Side Effects

Crestor and Grapefruit

the statin you are taking is not one which reacts with grapefruit juice.

This one is much more technical, but says roughly the same
Canadian Pharmacists Journal - Grapefruit interaction: Not all statins are equal

So I think you shouldn't be worrying.

Many thanks for the references - I'd never have found them by myself! Although gutted to find an error in something Dr S. wrote (or had misprinted!), I'm now reassured for me, but am still a bit cautious for Hubby. Fortunately, he's not as addicted as I am!!!

Thanks again for your help, and apologies to everyone who is bored stiff with me hijacking this thread!