ELI5. Grapefruit juice and the effects on mental health medication?

894 views

To me it’s interesting that grapefruit juice is listed as a “no no” while taking antidepressants/anti-anxiety medication.

I’ve looked into it and I still don’t understand. Can someone explain why you aren’t supposed to mix them? I’m only asking because I like a good Ruby Grapefruit White Claw once and a while…

In: 20

13 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Chemicals in the grapefruit inactivate enzymes in the liver that process drug molecules. This can mean that too much of a drug enters your system in the first place or that it’s broken down more slowly than expecting, allowing a toxic dose to build up, or (the strangest case) some drugs are given in a form that require those liver enzymes to turn it into the active drug, meaning you’d get *too low a dose* of such medicines as a result.

I made a video about this! [Three ways grapefruit can kill you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJdU5VXo85M). 🙂

You are viewing 1 out of 13 answers, click here to view all answers.