Metformin and Grapefruit

[R.W.]

Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
What is the real skinny on this subject?

[Sleepyman]

I take a drug called Pletal, for Claudication, and on of the
few warnings on bottle is No Grapefruit. I thought it odd. I
hate Grapefruit anyway, As for metformin, I don't seem to
remember seeing grapefruit prohibited, or warned of. Sleepy

On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 03:29:57 -0500 (EST),
oldgeezer66@webtv.net (R.W.) wrote:

>Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
>while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
>warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
>What is the real skinny on this subject?
>
>
>
>
>

Everything is in walking distance If you have the time....

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[George]

Grapefruit & grapefruit juice contains a high level of acid
that could breakdown the medication quicker than its supposed
to. Most meds are meant to work over a period of time.
Grapefruit would shorten that amount of time dramatically. Or
that's what my Dr. told me. He didn't eating grapefruit while
taking any meds. So first we can't eat sweets, and now we
can't eat grapefruit.

On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 03:29:57 -0500 (EST),
oldgeezer66@webtv.net (R.W.) wrote:

>Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
>while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
>warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
>What is the real skinny on this subject?

[George]

The interaction between grapefruit and some medications was
discovered by accident when researchers were looking for an
interaction between a particular blood pressure medicine and
alcohol. Grapefruit juice was used as a vehicle to mask the
taste of the alcohol. While the alcohol did not affect the
amount of the drug circulating in the body, the grapefruit
juice greatly increased the levels of the medication.

It is thought that one or more of the chemicals (most likely
flavonoids) in grapefruit juice alter the activity of specific
enzymes (such as CYP3A4 and CYP1A2) in the intestinal tract.
These enzymes decrease the amount of certain drugs which enter
the systemic circulation. This could allow a larger amount of
these drugs to reach the bloodstream, resulting in increased
activity and possibly toxicity.

Some of the drugs which interact with grapefruit have a narrow
therapeutic index. This means that the amount needed for the
desired effects are not much lower than the amount that can
cause toxicity. In this type of medication even a moderate
increase in blood levels could cause harm.

On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 10:06:20 -0500, Sleepyman <eat@joes>
wrote:

>>Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
>>while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
>>warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
>>What is the real skinny on this subject?

[Wendy Bake]

George <GeorgeM@highpowerpc.com> wrote:
: Grapefruit & grapefruit juice contains a high level of acid
: that could breakdown the medication quicker than its
: supposed to. Most meds are meant to work over a period of
: time. Grapefruit would shorten that amount of time
: dramatically. Or that's what my Dr. told me. He didn't
: eating grapefruit while taking any meds. So first we can't
: eat sweets, and now we can't eat grapefruit.

: On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 03:29:57 -0500 (EST),
: oldgeezer66@webtv.net (R.W.) wrote:

:>Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
:>while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
:>warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
:>What is the real skinny on this subject?

I have seen the Lipior warning on grapefruit. I asked my endo
about it. He said I could eat grapefruit occasionally, but not
at the same time as the medication. As I take the Lipitor just
before going to bed, this is not a problem for me.

Wendy Baker

[Jennifer]

True George, but it's not for all drugs.

My Lipitor has a sticker on it... and it's in the literature.

I've taken Metformin for years and never had this warning.

You can read much more here:
http://www.powernetdesign.com/grapefruit/

Jennifer

George wrote:
> The interaction between grapefruit and some medications was
> discovered by accident when researchers were looking for an
> interaction between a particular blood pressure medicine and
> alcohol. Grapefruit juice was used as a vehicle to mask the
> taste of the alcohol. While the alcohol did not affect the
> amount of the drug circulating in the body, the grapefruit
> juice greatly increased the levels of the medication.
>
> It is thought that one or more of the chemicals (most likely
> flavonoids) in grapefruit juice alter the activity of
> specific enzymes (such as CYP3A4 and CYP1A2) in the
> intestinal tract. These enzymes decrease the amount of
> certain drugs which enter the systemic circulation. This
> could allow a larger amount of these drugs to reach the
> bloodstream, resulting in increased activity and possibly
> toxicity.
>
> Some of the drugs which interact with grapefruit have a
> narrow therapeutic index. This means that the amount needed
> for the desired effects are not much lower than the amount
> that can cause toxicity. In this type of medication even a
> moderate increase in blood levels could cause harm.
>
>
>
> On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 10:06:20 -0500, Sleepyman
> <eat@joes> wrote:
>
>
>>>Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
>>>while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is
>>>no warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention
>>>it. What is the real skinny on this subject?
>

[Jim Horne]

"Wendy Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
news:apmg1j$b1r$1@reader1.panix.com...
: George <GeorgeM@highpowerpc.com> wrote:
: : Grapefruit & grapefruit juice contains a high level of
: : acid that could breakdown the medication quicker than its
: : supposed to. Most meds are meant to work over a period of
: : time. Grapefruit would shorten that amount of time
: : dramatically. Or that's what my Dr. told me. He didn't
: : eating grapefruit while taking any meds. So first we can't
: : eat sweets, and now we can't eat grapefruit.
:
:
: : On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 03:29:57 -0500 (EST),
: : oldgeezer66@webtv.net (R.W.) wrote:
:
: :>Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
: :>while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is
: :>no warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention
: :>it. What is the real skinny on this subject?
:
: I have seen the Lipior warning on grapefruit. I asked my
: endo about it. He said I could eat grapefruit
: occasionally, but not at the same time as the medication.
: As I take the Lipitor just before going to bed, this is
: not a problem for me.
:
: Wendy Baker

I was on a lovastatin two years ago, eating a lot of
grapefruit and grapefruit juice. My triglycerides were over
1000. rechecked two weeks later after being instructed to stop
the grapefruit and the triglycerides came down, but they also
dx'ed me as diabetic.

I've been instructed not to consume grapefruit or grapefruit
juice while on a statin. now on pravastatin.

Jim

[Treb]

Well theres no warning on my metformin box and i drink
grapefruit juice every day with breakfast

....Is that why folk hate me?........LMAO

Treb

"R.W." <oldgeezer66@webtv.net> wrote in message news:3994-3DB-
E4705-863@storefull-2117.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
> while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
> warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
> What is the real skinny on this subject?
>
>
>

[Mr. Perry]

After reading this I immediately called my pharmacist. He
looked at the list of medications that are effected by
grapefruit and/or grapefruit juice. Metformin is NOT on the
list. He said that some blood pressure meds and cholesterol
meds are, but not any meds that I take.

Any pharmacist that I have ever met is more than happy to
answer any questions about the prescriptions drugs we take.

Best of luck to you. Chuck

"R.W." wrote:

> Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
> while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
> warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
> What is the real skinny on this subject?

[K]

"R.W." <oldgeezer66@webtv.net> wrote in message news:3994-3DB-
E4705-863@storefull-2117.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Called the pharmacist and asked if I could eat grapefruit
> while taking metformin. She said absolutely not. There is no
> warning in the literature and the doctor didn't mention it.
> What is the real skinny on this subject?
>

If I had to choose, I'd rather take the metformin over the
grapefruit, any day. :)

I did look at rxlist.com and there's no mention of grapefruit
there on the glucophage FAQ.

There is a general drug-interaction warning at
http://www.napra.org/docs/0/509/513.asp © 2002 National
Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities. All Rights
Reserved. (Canada).

This is a drug-grapefruit interaction table from the Canadian
Medical Association Journal
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/167/3/279/T125

Best regards,
--
Kosta, T2 www.cactus48.com

>

[Colleen]

Interesting post. Went to the doctor today and he prescribed
Altocor for my high cholesterol. On the directions it
specifically says not to take it with grapefruit juice. It
does not say why, but I do remember hearing about this before.
It depends upon the medication.

Oh well! One more thing I can't eat!

Colleen

[Mr. Perry]

Colleen wrote:

> Interesting post. Went to the doctor today and he prescribed
> Altocor for my high cholesterol. On the directions it
> specifically says not to take it with grapefruit juice. It
> does not say why, but I do remember hearing about this
> before. It depends upon the medication.
>
> Oh well! One more thing I can't eat!
>
> Colleen

According to my pharmacist, it makes some drugs act as if they
are stronger and may cause toxic levels of the drug.

[R.W.]

Somewhere I read that the researchers were studying the
certain chemicals in grapefruit and the interaction of the
chemicals in certain drugs to see if they could possibly lower
the drug dosage and get the same effect by using grapefruit to
boost the benefit to the level needed to do the job.

[Treb]

Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice EVERY
day I feel fine Treb

"R.W." <oldgeezer66@webtv.net> wrote in message news:3995-3DB-
F470C-365@storefull-2117.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Somewhere I read that the researchers were studying the
> certain chemicals in grapefruit and the interaction of the
> chemicals in certain drugs to see if they could possibly
> lower the drug dosage and get the same effect by using
> grapefruit to boost the benefit to the level needed to do
> the job.
>
>
>

[Tiger Lily]

"Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:geZv9.1589$Ir6.1540@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
> IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
> experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice EVERY
> day I feel fine Treb

read the package insert, Treb, old man....... it's CONTRA
INDICATED with metformin to eat grapefruit juice

www.rxlist.com if you have already tossed the information from
your pharmacist

sigh..... idiot!

[Da1]

I got this from my pharmacist this morning. Just thought I'd
share. DaveA ... Hello Dave,

Thank you for writing to drugstore.com. Although there are
several medications that may be affected by grapefruit juice
intake, Glucophage is NOT one of them. Grapefruit juice
inhibits an enzyme in the body called CYP3A4 and can interact
with drugs that are metabolized by this enzyme. Also
grapefruit juice may increase the absorption of some drugs
resulting in an increase response. Glucophage is NOT
metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme nor is its absorption
affected by grapefruit juice. After reviewing my references, I
have found no documented evidence that suggests grapefruit
juice should be avoided by patients taking Glucophage. So go
ahead, eat grapefruit and enjoy. Please feel free to contact
drugstore.com at any time should you have further questions or
concerns. A member of our Customer Care staff will be happy to
assist you.

Sincerely,

Sandy YourPharmacist@drugstore.com
http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy "Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk>
wrote in message
news:geZv9.1589$Ir6.1540@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
> IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
> experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice EVERY
> day I feel fine Treb
>
> "R.W." <oldgeezer66@webtv.net> wrote in message news:3995-3-
> DBF470C-365@storefull-2117.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> > Somewhere I read that the researchers were studying the
> > certain chemicals in grapefruit and the interaction of the
> > chemicals in certain drugs to see if they could possibly
> > lower the drug dosage and get the same effect by using
> > grapefruit to boost the benefit to the level needed to do
> > the job.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

[Wes Grolea]

> Although there are several medications that may be affected
> by grapefruit juice intake, Glucophage is NOT one of them.

Is glucophage metformin? Or are they two different things? I
thought I heard someone say she was taking both.

[Mr. Perry]

They are the same.

Wes Groleau wrote:

> > Although there are several medications that may be
> > affected by grapefruit juice intake, Glucophage is NOT one
> > of them.
>
> Is glucophage metformin? Or are they two different things? I
> thought I heard someone say she was taking both.

[Treb]

NOT on my pack OLD man

"Tiger Lily" <klily@nospamteluspla.net> wrote in message
news:Br2w9.1524$H54.159274@news2.telusplanet.net...
>
> "Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:geZv9.1589$Ir6.1540@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> > Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
> > IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
> > experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice
> > EVERY day I feel fine Treb
>
>
> read the package insert, Treb, old man....... it's CONTRA
> INDICATED with metformin to eat grapefruit juice
>
> www.rxlist.com if you have already tossed the information
> from your pharmacist
>
> sigh..... idiot!

[Treb]

Oh and hey Fuck you

mutters ....call me a fucking idiot......

"Tiger Lily" <klily@nospamteluspla.net> wrote in message
news:Br2w9.1524$H54.159274@news2.telusplanet.net...
>
> "Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:geZv9.1589$Ir6.1540@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> > Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
> > IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
> > experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice
> > EVERY day I feel fine Treb
>
>
> read the package insert, Treb, old man....... it's CONTRA
> INDICATED with metformin to eat grapefruit juice
>
> www.rxlist.com if you have already tossed the information
> from your pharmacist
>
> sigh..... idiot!

[Frank Roy]

Wes Groleau wrote:

> > Although there are several medications that may be
> > affected by grapefruit juice intake, Glucophage is NOT one
> > of them.
>
> Is glucophage metformin? Or are they two different things? I
> thought I heard someone say she was taking both.

Metformin is the generic name. Glucophage is a brand name.
There are at least two manufacturers of metformin in the US.

Frank Roy

[Colleen]

The rx page says nothing about metformin and grapefruit.
I read it.

Colleen

[Mr. Perry]

Not in mine either.

Treb wrote:

> NOT on my pack OLD man
>
> "Tiger Lily" <klily@nospamteluspla.net> wrote in message
> news:Br2w9.1524$H54.159274@news2.telusplanet.net...
> >
> > "Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:geZv9.1589$Ir6.1540@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> > > Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
> > > IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
> > > experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice
> > > EVERY day I feel fine Treb
> >
> >
> > read the package insert, Treb, old man....... it's CONTRA
> > INDICATED with metformin to eat grapefruit juice
> >
> > www.rxlist.com if you have already tossed the information
> > from your pharmacist
> >
> > sigh..... idiot!
> >

[Jim Horne]

"Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:_7gw9.772$dv6.244@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
: Oh and hey Fuck you
:
: mutters ....call me a fucking idiot......

I think you added the F bomb here. Grow some skin.

:
: "Tiger Lily" <klily@nospamteluspla.net> wrote in message
: news:Br2w9.1524$H54.159274@news2.telusplanet.net...
: >
: > "Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
: > news:geZv9.1589$Ir6.1540@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
: > > Interesting that most folk are relying on hearsay
: > > IE ....I read somewhere..... rather than personal
: > > experience. I take metformin and grapefruit juice
: > > EVERY day I feel fine Treb
: >
: >
: > read the package insert, Treb, old man....... it's CONTRA
: > INDICATED with metformin to eat grapefruit juice
: >
: > www.rxlist.com if you have already tossed the information
: > from your pharmacist
: >
: > sigh..... idiot!
: >
: >
:
:

[Tiger Lily]

lol...... maybe he's just heard it that way so many times
before, Jim ???

lol..........

"Jim Horne" <edu> wrote in message .de...
>
> "Treb" <c5@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message.uk...
> : Oh and hey Fuck you
> :
> : mutters ....call me a fucking idiot......
>
> I think you added the F bomb here. Grow some skin.
>
>
> :
> : "Tiger Lily" <> wrote in message.net...
> : >
> : > sigh..... idiot!