Posted by larryhoover on June 16, 2011, at 19:37:10
In reply to All I know is grapefruit is an inhibitor of some, posted by alchemy on June 16, 2011, at 18:48:28
> I don't know if it is the absorption or the liver, but I have heard that grapefruit can interfere with a bunch of meds.
Quite right! Both are true.
Grapefruit (and some related citrus) contain compounds that inhibit certain uptake pumps. So, if a drug depends on those pumps to get into the bloodstream, it's as if you took less than you really did.
And grapefruit also inhibits certain liver enzymes, which can lead to either under-dosing or over-dosing, as the case may be. If a drug is de-activated by this specific enzyme, it will be as if you took more than you really did, because it won't break down. Or, if in contrast, it is an active metabolite that provides the benefits, it will not be produced at the normal rate, and it will be as if you took less of the drug.
You can't generalize about the impact of grapefruit on a specific drug. But you can do the research to learn about it.
Lar
poster:larryhoover
thread:988285
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110610/msgs/988399.html