grapefruits

[Parker19]

I suppose everyone knows that victrelis and incevek are not new drugs but were used for HIV prior to being used for HCV. With some hiv drugs it says do not ear grapefruit as it will interfere with the drugs efficacy.  Although I have not seen this on the list of drug interactions for victrelis or incevek, I was just wondering if anyone knows or has been told by their doctor not to eat them while on treatment.  I have had them several times while on treatment, and would like to continue since they are so healthy for you, but I do not want to impede treatment at all.  thanks


Research about the interaction of grapefruit juice with drugs suggests that compounds in grapefruit juice, called furanocoumarins (for example, bergamottin), may be responsible for the effects of grapefruit juice. Researchers believe that furanocoumarins block the enzymes in the intestines that normally break down many drugs. One glass of grapefruit juice could elicit the maximum blocking effect, and the effect may persist for longer than 24 hours. Since the effects can last for such a prolonged period of time, grapefruit juice does not have to be taken at the same time as the medication in order for the interaction to occur. Therefore, unlike similar interactions, where the interaction can be avoided by separating the administration of the two interacting agents by a couple of hours, administration of grapefruit juice with susceptible drugs should be separated by 24 or more hours to avoid the interaction. Since this is not practical for individuals who are taking a medication daily, they should not consume grapefruit juice when taking medications that are affected by grapefruit juice.

The grapefruit juice-drug interaction can lead to unpredictable and hazardous levels of certain important drugs.

These are medications with which grapefruit juice should NOT be consumed unless advised by a doctor:

Statins (cholesterol drugs): lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin Lipitor, simvastatin Zocor, simvastatin/ezetimibe (Vytorin)


Antihistamines: fexofenadine (Allegra), (terfenadine (Seldane), taken off the U.S. market


Calcium channel blockers (blood pressure drugs): nimodipine (Nimotop), felodipine (Nitrendipine, Plendil), nisoldipine (Sular), nicardipine (Cardene), verapamil (Verelan)


Psychiatric medications: buspirone (BuSpar), triazolam (Halcion), carbamazepine (Tegretol), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), sertraline (Zoloft)


Intestinal medications: cisapride (Propulsid) taken off the U.S. market


Immune suppressants: cyclosporine (Neoral), (tacrolimus) Prograf


Pain medications: Methadone


Impotence drug: (erectile dysfunction): sildenafil (Viagra)


HIV medication: saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase)

[Revalation]

If you rely on your doctors to tell you everything you need to know I think
you will short change yourself. There are some very excellent and experienced physicians, but I think you should fill in some info for yourself.

There are many people here who have had less than optimal experiences with doctors. Remember they are human and they can't remember ever
thing.
Grapefruit juice is problematic for several medications including some blood pressure meds...

Wish you a successful treatment this time.

[Idyllic]

Ok, I see where the info related to the grapefruit juice came from:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14760
_____________________________________-

I was wondering about this statement:
"I suppose everyone knows that victrelis and incevek are not new drugs but were used for HIV prior to being used for HCV."

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_protease_inhibitors.htm

http://aids.about.com/od/medicationfactsheets/a/hivmedsheets.htm

http://www.aidsmap.com/How-HIV-works/cat/1440/

[brianmo]

Yes, my husband saw me doing my morning pills with GF juice and said, "you might want to tAlk with your doctor about that". I did and he was right she said no GF juice.  huh.  Was I suppose to know that????

[frijole]

Yes, I understand there is an interaction between victrelis and grapefruit and I learned it on this board too.  Then I looked for the confirmatin on that and found it in Victrelis' labeling.

I don't believe either Victrelis or Incevik have been used to treat HIV.  They were just approved in May, 2011, for the treatment of Hepatitis C.  They are in a class of new drugs that target the specific virus and there are HIV drugs that do the same - but not the same drugs.

[Parker19]

thanks, I read the research and I won't eat it until therapy is complete.  

[Parker19]

Thanks , I won't ear it again until therapy is over.  I think our doctors should have told us about diet limitation.  thanks so much and have a great Sunday

[flcyclist]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/post-tx-diet-question/show/1657232