Grapefruit, cholesterol and high blood pressure
Many people take grapefruit juice every morning at around the same time they take their cholesterol or high blood pressure medicine. Grapefruit juice has been said to contain many substances that can prevent cancer and prevent hardening of the arteries (artherosclerosis) amongst other things.
Unfortunately, grapefruit juice also contains substances that block certain enzymes in the intestines. These enzymes normally break down cholesterol and hypertension medication that you take so that only a small amount of the drug goes into the blood. When the enzymes are blocked, more of the medication gets into the blood which can cause overdose.
These effects of grapefruit juice can last for some time so simply drinking it at a different time may still have negative effects, so you may have to stop taking it altogether while you are taking these medications.
