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Statins vs grapefruit juice

(13 Posts)
mikeb123 Wed 30-Apr-25 16:44:13

I cannot find an answer on the internet to my basic question - no matter how I phrase it!! Hope someone can help

Can I stop taking my daily statin - 20 mgs Atorvastatin - and drink a daily glass of grapefruit juice instead?

Thanks in advance

loopyloo Wed 30-Apr-25 16:48:02

Well, yes you can, but is it advisable ?
Best to discuss it with your GP.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Apr-25 16:48:27

I used to know the answer to that but I have forgotten the reason.

The answer is no.

But I can’t tell you why.

keepingquiet Wed 30-Apr-25 16:49:02

I don't know but I have a GP appointment tomorrow to discuss starting statins so I will ask her and let you know.

Why juice and not just eat the grapefruit?

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Apr-25 16:49:10

There two different answers!!

Best contact someone who really knows😄😄

Georgesgran Wed 30-Apr-25 16:59:35

I’m not sure it’s wise to exchange one for the other. Obviously it’s something to discuss with your GP Surgery, but the NHS website doesn’t advise mixing statins and grapefruit juice. It can increase the amount of Atorvastatin in the bloodstream which could lead to experiencing more side effects.

Parsley3 Wed 30-Apr-25 17:08:34

I take amlodipine and no grapefruit products is printed on every packet. Best to get advice from a professional, mike.

NotSpaghetti Wed 30-Apr-25 17:11:07

Lots of studies about drug interactions with Grapefruit in various forms and various varieties of Grapefruit - so I suppose it might depend on if you are taking anything else - and how much you need to reduce your cholesterol in the first place.

Try looking on Google Scholar- as I just did. Lots of Grapefruit studies do involve other drugs - or they are looking at weight loss.

The other thing I noticed was that grapefruit seeds are potentally powerful agents!

Can you ask for a 10mg of Atorvastatin if you don't want to take 20mg and see if that reduces your cholesterol just as well as the 20mg?

I would be interested to know what you discover!

ViceVersa Wed 30-Apr-25 17:14:08

Grapefruit (fruit and/or juice) can adversely interact with quite a number of medications, so it's always wise to read the information label which comes with your meds.

dragonfly46 Wed 30-Apr-25 17:24:39

Grapefruit juice enhances the effects of drugs so can be dangerous. I have also been told to avoid pomegranate.

LOUISA1523 Wed 30-Apr-25 17:26:41

Definitely not

NotSpaghetti Wed 30-Apr-25 17:38:05

If I were you I'd read the academic literature and then discuss with a GP and/or clinical pharmacist.

You may need to give them a link to research if it's recent.
I have found things are inevitably more complicated than they appear at first.

I wouldn't have guessed, for example, that grapefruit variety has such an impact on results - and also when you eat more pith/bioflavanoids (as with whole grapefruit) ...
Not as straightforward a question as it seems.

Good luck.

petra Wed 30-Apr-25 17:39:48

I think someone’s bored. 🤷‍♀️