Can you eat grapefruit while on Lipitor medication?

6 May 2010

Correct; a peculiar cross reaction with a specific food exists with Lipitor and other "statin" drugs used to lower cholesterol. Grapefruit juice blocks special enzymes in the wall of the small intestine that actually destroy many medications, including Lipitor, and prevents their absorption into the body. Thus, in the normal state, smaller amounts of the drugs get into the body than are ingested. When the action of these enzymes is blocked (as by grapefruit juice), more of the drugs get into the body, and the blood levels of these medications increase. This can lead to toxic side effects from Lipitor, such as liver or muscle damage.

Lipitor is a statin - called atrovastain & I take 10mg a day, hope this helps? LOPID (Gemfibrozil tablets, USP) is a lipid regulating agent.