I've been drinking grapefruit juice for a year while taking xanax and didn't realize that I wasn't suppose to. Will this make the xanax more detectable in my urine as well as my bloodstream?
Xanax and grapefruit juice?
Question posted by TheRaven13 on 23 Feb 2012
Last updated on 23 March 2020
8 Answers
Darrellkayla4208497
24 March 2020
I also had no clue that a certain juice would have any affect on any drugs nor would it make it stronger. But I'm guessing if it does that, it's definitely will make it easier to detect and it'll stay in your system longer. that's just my guess.
masso
24 March 2020
This is the plain truth:
Moderate
ALPRAZolam ↔ food
Moderate Food Interaction
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with ALPRAZolam and lead to potentially dangerous side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor. Do not drink alcohol while taking ALPRAZolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. You may feel more drowsy, dizzy, or tired if you take ALPRAZolam with alcohol. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.
https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/alprazolam,xanax.html
As easy as that.
Welcome, masso
Skyjudd15
1 June 2019
As a long time user of benzodiazepines, mostly Xanax. 2mg three times a day. I beg you, never ever mix grapefruit juice, or grapefruit seed extract. Almost wrecked my car off only 1mg of Xanax and a few drinks off a health drink containing said ingredients and that’s all it took. Made that 1mg feel like 15mg. Please take precaution when on Xanax and what your ingesting. You could literally die by mixing these or tale someone else’s life.
downs82
14 Aug 2018
I have been taking xanax XR ( 4 mg day ) for about 4 years (I also take Vistaril (200mg) for anxiety on top of that, plus a mood stabilizer) I asked my doctor about the whole grapefruit thing (she is a very respected away winning doctor) She seemed like she wasn't that familiar with the interaction and told me "Honestly I don't see a problem with you eating grapefruit" Mind you benzos or other medication "including a number of sleeping pills we have tried", have never made me in the least bit impaired or sleepy. (if something says may cause drowsiness I know I am going to be up all night) I don't know if any of those factors went into consideration we she told me it would be fine" Honestly ask your doctor, people have been taking benzos and drinking grapefruit before the internet. I would trust my doctor over the internet or even my pharmacist (because they have to tell you about any potential side effects)
Tarajane03
12 Aug 2018
How much grapefruit juice are you drinking? Also not to be nosy but how many Xanax do you take? I take benzos myself for panic attack’s but never knew about the grapefruit juice . Are they saying on this website you can’t even have a small amount at all?
downs82
14 Aug 2018
Refer to my comment below yours. I talked to my doctor about it
Laurie henderson
5 May 2017
Makes xanxax more potent
Inactive
23 Feb 2012
Always be proactive in your own health. Asking lots of question or use the interreactor above. I just had to drop orange juice, but that's ok, as I never did like it much anyway with a double of vodka! Oh , bygone days of yore! Good luck to you, & no I have not had a drink of anything alcoholic in years & years, for all you others working on my problem... Mary
Inactive
24 Feb 2012
Mary with all the numbers (that I'm sure mean something prophetic),
What the h*ll is an interreactor? I couldn't find anything except something about a non-nuclear substrate. I thought I'd heard everything medical at least once and haven't the foggiest.
Thank you,
The Sleepy Hippie
Inactive
24 Feb 2012
Laura, my sweetest hippie chick, all the numbers are (or were) my age & year! It's my pass into cyberland! I meant the interreaction checker!At the top of the page in blue! Can't miss if it's it's correctly pointed out!!! Mary
Diaceatal
20 Dec 2014
As you have heard from The prior responses.No worries. The long and shot of it is: It, The grapefruit juice, Makes the drug last a bit longer in your system. Given the fact you have been doing this for some time and experienced no problems. I wouldn't worry about it. ! Merry Xmas Ms Hippy Chick!
Inactive
23 Feb 2012
In some drugs, ones that are affected by a certain enzyme in our bodies, have a synergistic effect when ingested with grapefruit juice. It causes the effect of the xanax to be more pronounced IN SOME PEOPLE. Since you have been doing this for over a year with no ill effects, I don't think there is a reason to worry. If you're still worried about these possible side effect, talk to your doc next time you see him/her. If you are really worried, call and make an appoimtment to see the doc and explain your apprehensions.
Hope you have a go day.
The Sweetest Hippie Chickie
TheRaven13
24 Feb 2012
OK , here is my situation. I am on diability for bi-polar, OCD, panic anxiety disorder, etc... I have been going to the same doctor for 14 years. He has prescribed me xanax 1.0mg up to 3 times day as needed. Because I have a son to raise and it doesn't take much to mess me up, I really do take them as needed every day for years. However this can range from 0.5mg to 1.0 mg a day and I still feel able to function safely. Well recently my doctors office started a drug urine testing policy that people on drugs like this need tested every 6 months to prove that they aren't selling them, which I'm not. Well valentine's weekend I only took 0.5 mg Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights because I wanted to be able to function as a wife "if you know what I mean" and Monday morning, I only took 0.5mg because I had to drive to my doc appt. At noon after I already peed 3 times, they said guess what, we need some urine.
I couldn't pee, so they gave me a cup and had me drink 4-5 cups of water to get a sample. My concern is that these test have cutoff levels, so will these small doses diluted be enough to show up and did the dose I took 3 hours prior show up to help the strength of the sample because I heard xanax don't stick around in your system very long. I'm a nervous wreck. I take my meds and don't want to lose my doctor because I didn't eat them like m & ms that weekend and they kind of half assed that test. What is your opinion? If I explain all this if it's not detected do you think he will give me another opportunity to prove it a better way.
Inactive
24 Feb 2012
Raven, you are gonna stress yourself out if you don't calm down. Your urine drug screen will test positive for benzos! Geez, hun, most people on here are worried about testing positive and how long it takes to get benzos out of your system, and you, the non-abusing, hard-working mother and wife (the hardest job on the face of the earth) are worried about testing negative. You are making me smile. I remember taking one fioricet for a migraine 4 days earlier and tested positive for barbiuates and opiates at work (I was a RN) after the shift was over... I somehow became impaired at that point... OMG, the hoops and money I spent on that and I won, Holy Moly girlfriend. Go an take you a chill pill and relax. Also, alot depends on what kind of test he does, mine was a simple UDS over 25 years ago, and surely,they are much more sensitive now and since you have been on them this long, the level of xanax reaches a steady state.
If you keep taking the med over an extended period of time, some will always be there. Water or no water. And after the test is positive, after you see him/her, you might want to explain how terrifying the whole ordeal was for you. And Raven, perhaps it's not xanax abusers they are after, but the many more oxycodone abusers. Here in Florida, there are pain clinics on every corner that have pharmacies in them. All the cars in the parking lots have out of state tags and it seems those are the docs that all the new rules are being written for... not yours, who has been taking care of you for a long time, he sees you often to determine how you are doing on the meds and if any changes in your plan of care need to be made. This is what the DEA wants to see. So... after rambling along and free associating for a while... do you get my thinking on this minor matter, sweetness?
Are we calm... have we come... comfortably numb?
The Pink Floyd Singing Hippie with the Flowers in Her Hair,
Laura
Inactive
24 Feb 2012
Also, it seems that every time I go to pain doc I have to pee. So what I do is... ask the nurses if they need a sample cause I gotta pee... if they want a pee pee for drug screen... already been there done that darlin'.
The Happy No Gotta Go Pee Pee Hippie,
Laura
Markkry
23 Nov 2013
I love sweet hippie chicks , being a standup hippie man
Ga Country Girl
18 April 2014
If you don't need to take the 1 mg 3 times a day
and the Dr sees that then he can always lower
the amount of pills or dosage strength allowed
per day for you. After all why give you more pills
then you really need. It is not a safe drug for some
kids to get a hold of. Sounds like you don't need
1 mg 3 times a day anymore.
Moose5150
23 Jan 2020
I'm looking for the sweetest hippy chick on her.
Moose5150
23 Jan 2020
I am currently looking for the sweetest hippy chick on Earth I got to see Jerry 37 times even though I'm only 45. Mostly in the late
GreenMommy
23 Feb 2012
You're fine. Xanax and grapefruit juice usually don't interact. Now valium and grapefruit juice, that's bad juju
Leabella
2 June 2013
I have been taking Xanax XR for years and have been told never to drink Grapefruit Juice. If you read the information that you get with your medication it says it there plainly. You always want your medication to work the correct way or what is the point of taking it?
SteveGoldbloom
22 Aug 2015
Wrong. Grapefruit juice is a POTENT disruptor of the metabolic cycle that removes Xanax from your body. Drinking grapefruit juice before or during ingestion of Xanax will in most cases increase the effects of Xanax and the duration of these effects. This can be a positive or negative occurrence for you, but it is definitely something that you should discuss with your MD. Current thinking is that it is the flavenoids in grapefruit juice that disrupts the cycle that normally removes Xanax from your bloodstream in just a few hours. OTOH, drinking grapefruit juice before ingesting Xanax may allow your MD to prescribe a smaller dose for you. In ANY case, you want to discuss the interaction with the MD who prescribes your Xanax.
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