New Delhi. Grapefruit juice can boost the absorption of certain medications and other common juices, including orange and apple, may limit the body’s absorption of drugs, compromising their effectiveness said Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India. Quoting Dr David Bailey from University of Western Ontario, Canada, Dr Aggarwal said that grapefruit juice markedly boosts the amount of drug that gets into the bloodstream.

As per American Academy of Family Physicians, doctors traditionally warn against drinking grapefruit juice if you’re taking certain medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems.

New research has shown that grapefruit juice, as well as orange and apple juice, can lower the body’s absorption of some drugs like anti–cancer drug Etopophos, beta–blockers, like Atenolol, anti-transplant rejection drug cyclosporine and antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and itraconazole. Healthy volunteers who took the allergy drug fexofenadine with grapefruit juice absorbed only half the amount of the drug, compared with volunteers who took the medicine with water.

Substances in the juices affect the absorption of drugs. Some chemicals block a drug uptake transporter, reducing drug absorption; other chemicals block a drug metabolizing enzyme that normally breaks down the drugs.

In general, it’s safest to take medication with water. A glass is better than a sip. It helps dissolve the tablet. Cool water is better than hot, because your stomach empties cool water faster, sending the medication on its way to the small intestine and finally the blood stream.