Sunday 17 July 2016

Do not take drugs with juices

Do not take drugs with juices New Delhi, July 16, 2016: "Grapefruit juice can reduce the absorption of certain medications. Other common juices, including orange and apple, may limit the body’s absorption of drugs, compromising their effectiveness," said Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Honorary Secretary General IMA. Quoting Dr David Bailey from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, Dr Aggarwal said that grapefruit juice markedly reduces the amount of drug that gets into the bloodstream. As per the American Academy of Family Physicians, doctors traditionally warn against drinking grapefruit juice if you’re taking certain medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart rhythm problems. Research has shown that grapefruit juice, as well as orange and apple juice, can lower the body’s absorption of some drugs like anti-cancer drug Etopophos, beta-blockers like Atenolol, and anti-transplant rejection drug cyclosporine and antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and itraconazole. Healthy volunteers who took the allergy drug fexofenadine with grapefruit juice absorbed only half the amount of the drug, compared with volunteers who took the medicine with water. Substances in the juices affect the absorption of drugs. Some chemicals block a drug uptake transporter, reducing drug absorption; other chemicals block a drug metabolizing enzyme that normally breaks down the drugs. In general, it’s safest to take medication with water. A glass is better than a sip. It helps dissolve the tablet. Cool water is better than hot because your stomach empties cool water faster, sending the medication on its way to the small intestine and finally the blood stream.

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