Eating grapefruit could kill you! Kidney patient was taken to the emergency room after taking 2 pills
Quick Look
- A patient with stage 4 chronic kidney disease almost died after eating two grapefruits at one go, resulting in hyperkalemia and a heartbeat that plummeted to 40 beats per minute.
- Doctors warn that patients with kidney disease should avoid eating grapefruit because it is rich in potassium ions and contains furanocoumarins, which can affect drug metabolism.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Patients with chronic kidney disease cannot effectively excrete potassium ions from the body due to poor kidney function. Eating high-potassium fruits can easily cause hyperkalemia.
2026/09/14 17:02
Eating grapefruit could kill you! A kidney patient was sent to the emergency room after taking 2 pills. Schematic diagram. (File photo)
[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] Next Friday is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Pomelo and moon cakes are must-have foods for the occasion, but they may be fatal to kidney patients. Nephrologist Hong Yongxiang shared that a patient with stage 4 chronic kidney disease ate two grapefruits one day and suddenly felt muscle weakness and chest tightness that night. After being sent to the hospital, he was diagnosed with hyperkalemia and his heartbeat was only 40 beats per minute. He almost suffered cardiac arrest, but his life was saved only after emergency treatment.
Hong Yongxiang posted on the Facebook fan page "Dr. Hong Yongxiang's Attack Therapy for Chronic Renal Failure" that the man's condition was usually well controlled. Before the onset of the disease, he received a grapefruit gift box and thought it was a natural fruit. He ate two of them after dinner. Unexpectedly, he became weak and sent him to the emergency room. The blood test showed that the blood potassium was as high as 7.2mmol/L, far exceeding the upper limit of normal value of 5mmol/L, and the heart rate was only 40 beats.
Hong Yongxiang explained that grapefruit contains "furanocoumarins", which can inhibit the enzymes in the liver that metabolize drugs, causing drug concentrations to skyrocket. Moreover, grapefruit itself is a high-potassium fruit, which is a "double fatal blow" to patients with poor kidney function and regular medication. This ingredient acts in the body for up to 72 hours, so it is best not to eat grapefruit while taking the medicine.
Doctors remind kidney patients that if they want to eat fruit, it is recommended to give priority to apples, pears or grapes that are low in potassium and high in fiber. In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes should also be eaten in moderation. Do not exceed half a Hong Kong-style mooncake per day, and do not exceed one egg yolk cake a day to avoid excessive fat and oil, which increases the burden on the body.
Open Questions
- What is the patient's subsequent recovery status?
