Tag Archives: drugs

Depression and Grapefruit

Just say no to grapefruit

I remember when I first starting taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication that I was told I couldn’t eat grapefruit anymore. While this didn’t leave me suicidal, it certainly puzzled me then as it does now.

So in the interest of the depressed grapefruit lovers everywhere, here are a few articles that examine the issue:

Grapefruit and Drug Interactions

Grapefruit May Sabotage Meds

Grapefruit Juice and Medications: A Potential for Adverse Events

Basically grapefruit has a bad interaction with a drug metabolizing enzyme called the CYP 3A4 enzyme. It makes it so that effectiveness of certain medications is drastically reduced.

Why grapefruits and not other citrus? I don’t know. But apparently, depression and grapefruit don’t mix.

Bummer.

-DMR