grapefruit juice

[jooms]

10 years ago my wife received kidney from her brother. Less than 2 years later she was back on dialysis. This year we discovered the cause might have been due to grapefruit juice. After years of restricted diet she drank a lot of GJ immediately after her operation.

I thought I might share this information.
The drug at the time was cyclosporine. There are now other anti-rejection drugs which are not inhibited by GJ.

Check this site
www.powernetdesign.com/grapefruit

[Elaine]

Hiya sorry to hear that. Yes suprised no-one told u about not having grapefruit juice etc interacting with medication etc. Especially with such important issues transplant etc
I often find leaflets in pharmacy bag and they tell us too about not having G juice even with cholesterol drugs too.

Good of you to remind every1 of the importance/ relevance of drug interactions.

good luck best wishes Elaine UK

[pamom2]

It's a shame you wasn't told about it. My coordinator just warned me about grapefruit last week before I start my meds this week.
Take care and good luck!

[Doolally]

I've never been told about GJ either, after 3 years of meds. I eat grapefruit quite a lot. I guess I'd better stop?? I'm taking azathioprine so maybe it doesn't react in the same way?? Better safe than sorry I suppose.

Is there any other food that reacts with the various drugs that I should know about - immunos, steroids, statins, BP, aspirin etc?

Sorry your wife didn't know about this sooner. Thanks for letting us know.

Ali

[JMan]

It works by altering the absorption rate of some drugs

http://www.google.com/search?q=Bergamot ... rt=10&sa=N

Bergamottin is the culprit substance in question. and it enhances (unpredicatably at the moment) the absorption of drugs like cyclosporin, some statins, and I think things like antibiotics as well.

[Doolally]

JMan, You're a mind full of knowledge! Thanks. Ali

[BrendaM]

Anyone on cyclosporine should have been told by their neph that they should NOT to drink it within a few hours of taking the drug as part of the initial premed run through it says as much on our info leaflet in the pack. We avoid it totally just in case
regards
BrendaM

[JMan]

JMan, You're a mind full of knowledge! Thanks. Ali

Dunno about that, google is good though.

I guess you pick up a few things over 20 odd years

[jooms]

Was this common knowledge 10 years ago?
Everyone else seems to know about this.

[nycpetit]

I was warned of grapefruit and grapefruit dangers probably as long ago as 15 years. I took a lot of allergy medication as a child, and it was especially with Seldane (not sure if this drug even exists anymore) that grapefruit was a clear no-no.

It was, I believe, written up about in newspapers, and on television quite a few years back. And I would say ten years ago, yes it was common knowledge. Cyclo and many, many drugs, Prograf, Cellcept, all say "no grapefruit juice." As a consequence, I don't think I've had it for a good 25 years plus.

I am so sorry that it was not made clear to you. If you can do some further research on it, you might be able to find that you have a case on your hands. I would have thought doctors especially could have given you that warning to follow. It interacts with far more things that not, and many medications beyond immunosuppressants.
Natalie

[debbie]

This weekend when on tx ward I noticed a pt having g/f segments for his breakfast. Later when speaking with him he mentioned he was 5 days post tx. I queried which immunosuppressants (sp!) he was on. He said neoral, he was having C2 levels done, the same as rest of us so I asked why he was eating g/f. He didn't realise he shouldn't be!! It might explain why the kidney was not settling down properly. I found it quite hard to believe that he didn't know cos I had my 1st tx in same unit 10yrs ago and was aware of it then so someone had overlooked a very important issue here. He mentioned it to nursing staff who agreed with me and were adamant they had told him.

[JMan]

So they told him... They may well have

Its still no excuse on the part of the nursing staff.. Sorry but the stress of having a general anaestetic and a major op like ktx is enough to make anyone miss a small detail like that.

They should have been more aware.

(just my 2 cents)

[Nikki]

Hi all, I was told about GF but here's a silly question for you all.....I noticed on my bottle of Head & shoulders citrus shampoo yesterday that it had GF extracts........is that a problem? does it get absorbed into your blood stream? x

[JMan]

Technically ANYTHING you put on your skin can absorb through it (this is how smokers and various other med patches work.)

BUT I'd doubt there's enough 'grapefruit extract' in shampoo to cause problems?? Good question though ..

You could try contacting their 'customer careline' if they have one or P&G (Proctor & Gamble the manufacturers)

[Bruno]

some drinks like sunny d or delight have grapefruit juice in the mix also....

please read the lables....i found this out when i had to go back on dialysis also. some meds. state do not take with gj or eat gj. as a precaution i just stay away from all citrus even though i love manderine oranges!.