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

Question

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

Answer 1

Your liver has an enzyme called cytochrome P450 enzyme 3A4. This enzyme is important in modifying and breaking down a lot of chemicals and is taken into account when determining dosage of some drugs.

Graprefruit juice has a chemical in it that inactivates this enzyme.

So, if you drink grapefruit juice, you might overdose or take the wrong dose of some drugs because the dose is planned with the enzyme activity taken into account.

So, you have to avoid grapefruit juice when on some specific drugs.