although cbd is generally a safe product, there can be interactions with certain prescription medicines.
any prescribed drug that interacts with grapefruit will interact with cbd because they are both broken down by our bodies in the same way.
statins
statins are medicines that lower your cholesterol. grapefruit or grapefruit juice affects some statins.
do not drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking simvastatin. grapefruit juice increases the level of simvastatin in your blood and makes side effects more likely.
atorvastatin interacts with grapefruit juice if you drink large quantities (more than 1.2 litres daily), but an occasional glass is thought to be safe.
currently, healthcare professionals advise it is safe to drink grapefruit juice and eat grapefruit if you’re taking other types of statins.
calcium channel blockers
calcium channel blockers are medicines that relax the muscles that make up the walls of your arteries. they’re used as part of the treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease.
grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers and increases the level of the medicine in your blood. if you’re taking any of the medicines below, seek advice from your pharmacist or doctor if you wish to include grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.
- amlodipine
- felodipine
- lacidipine
- lercanidipine
- nicardipine
- nifedipine
- nimodipine
- verapamil
- grapefruit juice does not affect diltiazem.
anticoagulants
anticoagulants are medicines that help to prevent blood clots. they’re given to people at high risk of getting clots, to reduce their chances of serious conditions such as strokes and heart attacks.
do not drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking warfarin. it can increase the effect of warfarin on your blood, making you bleed more easily.
it’s safer to drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking the newer anticoagulants rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban or edoxaban.
antiplatelet medicines
antiplatelet medicines prevent platelets (a type of blood cell) from sticking together and forming blood clots. they help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
do not drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking the antiplatelet medicine clopidogrel, as it may mean your medicine works less effectively.
If you’re taking ticagrelor, grapefruit may increase the effects of your medicine and make you bleed more easily.
you do not need to avoid grapefruit if you’re taking dipyridamole or low-dose aspirin.
ciclosporin and immunosuppressants
ciclosporin, sirolimus and tacrolimus are medicines that moderate your immune system (the body’s natural defence system).
if you’re taking any of these medicines, do not drink grapefruit juice without consulting your doctor.
entocort
entocort is a medicine that contains budesonide and is used to treat crohn’s disease, a condition that affects the digestive system.
do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you’re taking this medicine, as the level of budesonide in your blood will increase.
cytotoxic medicines
some medicines used in the treatment of cancers may interact with grapefruit juice. you should check with your doctor before drinking grapefruit juice
