Check Up On Drug Interactions

Have you ever been warned against taking certain pills with grapefruit juice? Did you know it can turn normal therapeutic doses of a drug into a toxic overdose?

Researchers have recently raised some new concerns: grapefruit, orange and apple juices may block the effects of some drugs. This can wipe out potential drug benefits to patients.

The concern was raised and reported at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, by researchers at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada - my old hometown.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Bailey, a professor of clinical pharmacology at UWO. He also said, "I'm sure we'll find more and more drugs that are affected this way." Here is the link. Scroll down to Article #5

Dr. Bailey was part of the original team to identify the potential harm in consuming drugs with grapefruit juice. Their research showed interactions with grapefruit and grapefruit juice which raised the blood concentration of the tested drugs to dangerous levels.

So far, it is know to affect approximately 50 drugs, from cholesterol-lowering statins to Viagra. Many drugs now carry labels warning consumers against taking them with grapefruit juice or fresh grapefruit.

Classes of drugs affected by grapefruit juice include statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, sedatives, other cardio-vascular drugs, as well as other neurological and psychiatric medications. And, this is only what is currently known! What will researchers tell us about further drug inteactions in the future?

Good health begins before we get to the doctor's office. Make sure that you get into the following five daily good health habits, possibly avoiding the need to take drugs that migh interact with your serving of grapefruit or other fruits or juices:

1. Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night
2. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water throughout the day. 8 8-oz glasses is a good goal.
3. Plenty of exercise and the right amount of calories to support your ideal weight. Our bodies are designed to move!
4. Learn to deal with stress using sensible solutions, such as deep breathing, yoga, physical exercise, positive recreational choices, and meaningful interaction with others.
5. Choose your food wisely and buy real, whole foods. Avoid man-made and packaged foods when possible.

Support your system with good supplements if you suspect that you need them. I like MAX GXL
because it gives your body the components to create and recycle glutathione. That's our body's most potent antioxident. This supplement also supports liver function, which is necessary to detoxify the harmful chemicals in drugs, once they have done the job for which they were prescribed.

Here is a link (www.druginteractioncenter.org) where you can check to see if any drugs you may be taking interact with grapefruit. Just follow the links for patients and brands.