Grapefruit interactions

[Renate]

I went looking on the internet, and yes, grapefruit enzymes inhibit breakdown of estrogen effectively increasing estrogen levels.

The study points to the inhibition of CYP3A4 enzyme by grapefruit, which metabolizes estrogen.

See also:  List of drugs affected by grapefruit

I don't think that I would recommend using grapefruit to increase estrogen levels, but it is interesting.

[Tanya1]

holy smokes- I gonna try!

[Ayana]

 

holy smokes- I gonna try! 

   Remember, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Even fantastically healthy foods can make you very sick if eaten in extreme quantities. A balanced diet is always the best. 

   Ayana   

[Purple Pimp]

This is quite true.  Back when I took estrogen by pill, I bit the bullet and drank a glass of that nasty, old grapefruit juice every day.  Basically, it doesn't increase the estrogen, but rather slows the breakdown of estrogen, prolonging its bio-availability, something like 33% if I remember correctly.

Lia

[Steph]

If you take Lipitor don't eat grapefruits or drink the juice.  It has a nasty habit of making you extremely ill.  Patients are warned about this before they start taking the drug.  I had the misfortune of finding out the hard way after drinking fruit juice that contained grapefruit juice.  Not a nice experience.

Steph

[Suzie]

I've heard about the grapefruit too.  One thing you should watch out for is that grapefruit is also high in potassium.  So if you are taking spironolactone, you may put yourself at risk for having too much potassium.

[Sheila]

I have heard that you shouldn't be drinking Grapefuit juice while taking certain anti-depressants too. I was taking Paxil for a while and they told me not to drink Grapefruit juice. I was also taking lipitor too. Still taking lipitor. Well, my numbers are down and my dr. likes that. So do I. What a pain growing old is.
Sheila

[gothique11]

I love grapefruit with a shot of gin.

(Alcohol increases estradiol circulation).

According to this site: http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/408/drugs/brand/33_sideeffects/estrace.html
"Alcohol can raise circulating levels of estradiol significantly. The equivalent of half a glass of wine doubled estradiol blood levels, while three glasses' worth more than tripled the effective dose of Estrace. Skin patches are also affected, though less dramatically. Blood levels of estradiol rose 40 percent after alcohol consumption."

it also mentions:

"Estradiol levels also get a boost from grapefruit. Regular consumption of grapefruit or juice has a cumulative effect that increases estradiol exposure."

And, honestly, Grapefruit Juice, Gin, and a bit of ice is an amazing drink. You don't taste the gin (no alcohol taste at all), the grapefruit "sour/bitterness" also goes away and the drink turns sorts of sweet and very yummy. This drink is very addictive, easy to drink, and come with a sneak drunk attack! Don't way I warned you!


Now, for one caveat: I'm not a doctor. Talk to your doctor before starting a grapefruit and gin diet. And ask yourself, should you really be bumping up your E levels? And if you need to bump them up via grapefruit juice should you think about having your dose increased a bit? Just a thought.


--Natalie

[Purple Pimp]

You old lush. 

[Ember Lewis]

Several years ago my Grandmother lived in Florida and would bring Grapefruit in big bags from a tree in the yard. They didn't last long with me around as I can't stop eating them, sometimes I would eat 3-4 big Grapefruits one after the other. I still love them, I kinda want some now, think I'm going to see if I can find some nice one tomorrow.

[daisybelle]

I believe it blocks the absorbtion of drugs into the kidney thereby allowing more to pass thru into the body.

Daisy

[gothique11]

You old lush. 

Me? never! 

[Tanya1]

holy smokes- I gonna try! 

   Remember, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Even fantastically healthy foods can make you very sick if eaten in extreme quantities. A balanced diet is always the best. 

   Ayana   

okay okay I'll be careful...lol...seriously though I'll take precautions

[ceecee]

Grapefruit also interacts wonderfully with dark rum (Meyers, Appleton, etc).
The drink, called the Hemingway is 1 part fresh GF juice to 1 part rum. It is best enjoyed
in a beat up tin cup full of ice, so it sweats on the outside. The other important part
of enjoying a Hemingway it to drink it in a lounge chair, outdoors in a tropical climate
while watching palm trees flap in the breeze and running your toes through the sand.
It is especially good when enjoyed in Key West, but in a pinch any island in the
Caribbean or Hawaii will do just fine...

CeeCee

[Sarah]

I love grapefruit with a shot of gin.

(Alcohol increases estradiol circulation).

According to this site: http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/408/drugs/brand/33_sideeffects/estrace.html
"Alcohol can raise circulating levels of estradiol significantly. The equivalent of half a glass of wine doubled estradiol blood levels, while three glasses' worth more than tripled the effective dose of Estrace. Skin patches are also affected, though less dramatically. Blood levels of estradiol rose 40 percent after alcohol consumption."

it also mentions:

"Estradiol levels also get a boost from grapefruit. Regular consumption of grapefruit or juice has a cumulative effect that increases estradiol exposure."

And, honestly, Grapefruit Juice, Gin, and a bit of ice is an amazing drink. You don't taste the gin (no alcohol taste at all), the grapefruit "sour/bitterness" also goes away and the drink turns sorts of sweet and very yummy. This drink is very addictive, easy to drink, and come with a sneak drunk attack! Don't way I warned you!


Now, for one caveat: I'm not a doctor. Talk to your doctor before starting a grapefruit and gin diet. And ask yourself, should you really be bumping up your E levels? And if you need to bump them up via grapefruit juice should you think about having your dose increased a bit? Just a thought.


--Natalie

Have you ever had gin and a grapefruit Izzie?
Oh yeah.
Izzies are just carbonated water and juice (reconstituted) so you get a nice tonic!
REally good! and made here in Boulder!

[iminadaze]

I too have heard of this like genovais has said but it was not just grapefruit it was vitamin C and alot of it. so if that is true wouldn't a vitamin C supplement have the same affect without having to be concerned about potassium levels. I have also read that if potassium levels are high extra sodium intake can lower it. of course this is what I have read I would not do any of this without talking to the doc first, his adjustments in dosage rely on serum levels based off of what he has prescribed and I would not want to jeoperdize the possibility of a dosage increase if/when needed because of alternate methods. That being said if it would make a difference in bio-availability and my doctor approved I would do it also, but only because I have to pay out of pocket for my meds. I believe strongly that too many chemicals will confuse one's body so I am sticking to what I know is working. I go to a gender identity clinic and the endocrinologist that I see there treats TS exclusively, if this was that benificial wouldn't our doctors recommend supplements before dosage increases. Doctors seem to be reluctant to increase dosages at a patients request.

[Tanya1]

Doctors seem to be reluctant to increase dosages at a patients request.

yea, pretty anoyying- they should first do tests and if they see something wrong then I'll agree but if they just say no because they feel like it than that's ignorance. they give a basis for their desicion based on YOUR body not what they want.