In the morning, many French people have the same reflex: swallow their medication with a large glass of orange juice at breakfast. But is this gesture really safe? Certain fruit juices are known to interact with treatments and modify their effectiveness. So, is orange juice one of the drinks to avoid?
Aurélien Tesson, pharmacist, takes stock of the interactions between medications and fruit juices.
The Real Citrus Problem With Your Treatment
Contrary to some popular belief, orange juice poses relatively few problems with medications in the majority of cases. The main “trap” in pharmacology remains above all grapefruit juice. A fact that patients do not always know.
“Grapefruit contains substances that can block an intestinal enzyme called CYP3A4,” explains Aurélien Tesson. This enzyme plays an essential role in the degradation of many drugs.
When it is blocked, certain treatments are less eliminated by the body and their concentration in the blood can increase significantly. Result: the patient can find themselves in a situation of overdose, sometimes without realizing it.
Sometimes significant side effects
This interaction concerns several families of drugs: certain treatments against cholesterol, in particular certain statins, cardiovascular drugs, immunosuppressants, some anxiolytics or even certain antihistamines.
“Depending on the treatments, this can lead to more muscular, cardiac or neurological side effects”specifies the pharmacist.
The most misleading thing is that the effect of grapefruit lasts a long time. “It’s not just taking your tablet with a glass of juice that’s a problem. Drinking grapefruit juice during the day may be enough to modify the action of the medication for several hours, or even more than a day.”
And the orange juice in all this?
Good news for lovers of vitamin-packed breakfasts: orange juice is much less problematic than its cousin, grapefruit.
“Interactions with orange juice remain limited and much less marked”reassures Aurélien Tesson.
However, some exceptions exist. Certain citrus fruits may influence intestinal transporters that participate in the absorption of specific medications. In some rare cases, this may affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
Even if these interactions remain uncommon, they are a reminder that a food or drink can sometimes influence a medication in an unexpected way.
The right reflex: take your medication with water
To avoid unpleasant surprises, the simplest solution is often the most effective.
“When a patient begins treatment, it is best to take their medication with water”advises the pharmacist. This helps limit potential food interactions and ensures more stable absorption of the medication.
If in doubt, seek advice from your pharmacist or doctor remains essential. Certain interactions are still unknown to the general public even though they can have significant consequences on the effectiveness or tolerance of treatments.