Beware of drug interactions when eating grapefruit during the Mid-Autumn Festival! Doctors have named "Category 4 drugs" that must not be dispensed

Some grapefruit may affect the metabolism of certain drugs. People taking drugs for chronic diseases should first confirm whether the drugs have any relevant contraindications. Schematic diagram. (File photo)

[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] Pay attention to drug interactions when eating grapefruit during the Mid-Autumn Festival! Huang Xuan, a thoracic and critical care physician, reminded that some grapefruits may be similar to grapefruits and affect drug metabolism, especially those taking antihypertensive drugs, antihyperlipidemic drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs, anticoagulants, and immunosuppressants. They should first confirm whether they need to be avoided. Chronic disease drugs cannot be stopped on your own just because you want to eat grapefruit. It is always recommended to take medicines with boiled water, and avoid swallowing drugs with tea, juice, milk or coffee, so as not to affect the absorption or release of the drug effect.

Huang Xuan shared in the Facebook fan page "Dr. Ooi Hean" that autumn is getting stronger, and golden and plump pomelo and pomelo are on the market. Many people think that this is a high-fiber, vitamin C-rich health product, and even feel that it can relieve greasiness and oil after a delicious meal. However, from the perspective of modern clinical medicine and pharmacology, if you happen to have the following types of drugs in your daily list, it is forbidden to take them with grapefruit:

1. Antihypertensive drugs (such as calcium channel blockers). When the effect of the drug is forcibly amplified, it will cause excessive expansion of blood vessels, causing patients to suffer from severe hypotension, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and even shock.

2. Lipid-lowering drugs (such as Statins). High drug concentrations will significantly increase the incidence of rhabdomyolysis, and in severe cases may even lead to acute renal failure.

3. Antiarrhythmic drugs and anticoagulants. May disrupt heart rhythm or increase risk of bleeding.

4. Immunosuppressants. Out-of-control concentrations can expose organ transplant patients to severe drug toxicity.

Regarding the choice of alternative fruits, Huang Xuan suggested that you can choose according to your needs. If you want to eat seasonal fruits, you can choose pears, apples, oranges, kiwis, or dragon fruit; if you want to supplement vitamin C, you can choose guava, kiwi, oranges, and cherry tomatoes; if you want to control blood sugar, you can choose guava, cherry tomatoes, and kiwis, about the size of a fist at a time; if you want to avoid drug interactions, choose apples, pears, and guava.

Huang Xuan reminded that both guava and cherry tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and phytochemicals, which are very good for improving immunity. However, if the patient has kidney disease (needs to limit potassium and phosphorus), the potassium content of guava is above moderate and needs to be eaten according to the instructions of a nutritionist; for cherry tomatoes, attention should be paid to potassium ion and sugar control.