Does grapefruit juice stymie statin drugs?

If you are prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, you should know that some may be vulnerable to an adverse interaction with grapefruit juice. While "statins" such as rosuvastatin (Crestor), fluvastatin (Lescol) and pravastatin (Pravachol) do not interact with grapefruit products, atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev) and simvastatin (Zocor) are susceptible to harm from grapefruit juice.

That is, drinking eight or more ounces of grapefruit juice can exert a slowing effect on how the body metabolizes the latter group of statins, which causes high concentrations of these medications to remain in the bloodstream. As a result, symptoms including muscle pain and breakdown of muscle fibers (rhabdomylosis) can lead to kidney damage. While reactions can vary, grapefruit's effect can last 24-72 hours.

HINT: Drugs other than those mentioned above that have the potential to adversely interact with grapefruit juice include medications for high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia and depression.

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