Taking Medication With Fruit Juice

Sep 7 2008 Dr Gareth Smith

Family Casebook

I HAVE been bombarded with queries about mixing medication with fruit juices after a question in this column a few weeks ago so I'm going to clarify things.

Research shows certain acidic fruit juices containing the chemical naringin can severely affect the body's ability to absorb medication. The worst culprit is grapefruit juice which has very high levels of naringin.

Tests show grapefruit juice can stop some antibiotics and hayfever medications from being absorbed at all.

It can also dramatically reduce the benefits of beta blockers and some forms of chemotherapy.

Orange and apple juice also contain this chemical or one very similar to it and scientists believe they have only exposed "the tip of the iceberg" of medications that can be affected.

When taking medicine prescribed by your doctor, patients should drink water with tablets. If you are concerned about this, speak to your GP.