Pharmacist says avoid this drink if on statins or blood pressure tablets

Pharmacist says avoid this drink if on statins or blood pressure tablets Even one glass may affect how your body processes the drugs A pharmacist has issued a warning about the potential dangers of combining certain everyday medicines with a specific fruit juice. Ian Budd, a prescribing pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist4U, previously flagged that statins, blood pressure tablets, and antidepressants could all be affected by grapefruit juice. Taking them together could make the drugs less effective or, in certain cases, increase the risk of side effects. "Grapefruit is the biggest culprit for medication interactions," he explained. "Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are one of the most common causes of food and medicine interactions. They contain natural chemicals that block an enzyme in your liver, which helps break down certain medicines. "When that happens, your body can't process the drug as it normally would, so more of it stays in your system. That can make side effects stronger or more likely." Other medications are affected, too He went on to say: "This is especially important if you're taking medicines like statins, blood pressure tablets, some antidepressants, or immune-suppressing drugs. Even one glass of grapefruit juice can have an effect that lasts for up to one day, so it's safest to avoid it completely with these medications." His cautionary advice is backed up by NHS guidance. The health body warns on its website that those prescribed statins should think twice before reaching for a glass of grapefruit juice. As many as eight million people in the UK are prescribed statins. These medications are intended to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (or "bad" cholesterol) in the blood. What does the NHS say? NHS advice reads: "Grapefruit juice can affect some statins and increase your risk of side effects. A doctor may advise you to avoid it completely or only consume small quantities." Concerning blood pressure medications, the health service noted that amlodipine, a specific type of blood pressure medicine, can be affected by grapefruit. It said: "Having large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice can increase the concentration of amlodipine in your body and make side effects worse. If you are affected, you may have to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking amlodipine. "Tell your doctor if you have any increased side effects, such as feeling dizzy, flushing or getting headaches, after eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. Otherwise, you can eat and drink normally while taking amlodipine." Ian added: "As pharmacists, our goal is to help people understand how to use medications safely and effectively, and food plays a bigger role than many people realise. Even choices we think are health, like fruits, vegetables, or supplements, can sometimes affect how your medication works or how well your body absorbs it. "For example, something as simple as having grapefruit juice with breakfast can interfere with blood pressure medication, antidepressants or cholesterol medication, while foods high in vitamin K can impact how blood thinners work. "These are small details, but they can make a real difference in how well your treatment does its job." Should you have any concerns regarding your medication and the proper way to take it, seeking advice from your GP is strongly recommended.