Pomelo, pomelo and grapefruit may affect the metabolism of sleeping and anti-anxiety drugs. Staggering the taking time does not guarantee safety.

2026/09/23 12:07

Pomelo, pomelo and grapefruit contain "furanocoumarins", which inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme involved in drug metabolism in the intestines and liver. It is best to consult a physician or pharmacist before consuming them. (Photo by reporter Luo Bi)

[Reporter Luo Bi/Taipei Report] Can interaction be avoided by eating grapefruit in the morning and taking medicine in the evening? Zhou Bohan, director of Zhou Bohan Psychosomatic Medicine Clinic, reminded that grapefruit may affect the metabolism of some sleeping and anti-anxiety drugs, causing drug concentrations to increase; the effects may last for dozens of hours, and safety cannot be guaranteed by staggering the taking time alone.

Zhou Bohan said that grapefruit, pomelo and grapefruit contain furanocoumarins, which may inhibit the enzymes involved in the metabolism of some drugs and slow down the decomposition of drugs. Affected drugs include some sedatives, hypnotics and anti-anxiety drugs. People taking the drugs may be more prone to drowsiness, dizziness, slower reactions or unsteady walking than usual. People taking the drugs should be more careful if they drink alcohol or use other sedative drugs at the same time.

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"Many patients know that taking medicines cannot be paired with wine, but they don't know that some fruits may also affect the medicines." Zhou Bohan pointed out that the impact of grapefruit on drug metabolism will not completely disappear after a few hours after eating. In some cases, it may last for two or three days. Therefore, even if you stagger the time of eating grapefruit and taking medicine, an interaction may still occur.

However, it is not necessary to eat grapefruit if you are taking psychiatric medications. Zhou Bohan said that different drugs have different metabolic pathways and different levels of impact, and you cannot make your own judgment based on categories such as "sleeping pills" or "antidepressants." If people who are taking medicine regularly want to eat grapefruit, they can bring a medicine bag to ask their doctor or pharmacist. Especially those who take multiple medicines at the same time, are elderly or have poor liver and kidney function, they should confirm first; do not stop or reduce the medicine on your own just to eat grapefruit.