ie. grapefruit juice or extract amplifies the effects of some sleep meds (Dayvigo) while decreases the effects of others (Vyvanse)
In: Chemistry
Grapefruit binds together with the liver chemical (CYP3A4) that digests many medications. If the liver chemical doesn’t digest the drug (ie because you had grapefruit), your intestines absorb MORE of it because there’s more ‘available’.
Grapefruit interacts with some other medications making them LESS effective, by blocking some of the body’s ’drug transporters’. This is a pretty new find, so less is known about the details of this.
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Source: I’m an Ambulatory Medicine Specialty Certified Registered Nurse and I’m on the internet because I’m supposed to be getting some continuing education credits to renew my specialty certification, but I took ‘just a quick look’ at Reddit 🤭😆
Citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit, contain compounds that can interfere with the enzymes responsible for metabolizing certain medications in the liver. This can lead to higher levels of the medication in the bloodstream, potentially causing adverse effects or reducing the drug’s effectiveness.
If the drug is metabolized *out of* its active form by the liver enzymes that grapefruit components also occupy –> getting rid of active drug goes slower –> concentration stays higher for longer –> drug effect amplified.
If the drug is metabolized *into* its active form by those liver enzymes –> generating active drug goes slower –> concentration doesn’t reach as high as intended –> drug effect decreased.
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