NSW: Don't mix grapefruit and medications, says health dept.
People taking medication for HIV/AIDS and a range of other illness have been warnedto avoid grapefruit because of potentially serious side effects.
The NSW Health Department has issued the public health alert for people on medicationfor high blood pressure, arthritis, psoriasis, organ transplants and epilepsy.
Chief health officer GREG STEWART says some drugs prescribed for these complaints canbe dangerous if taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Dr STEWART says grapefruit increases the availability of some drugs in the body, causingpotentially dangerous side effects.
These include heart rhythm disturbances, impaired kidney function, blood pressure changesand anaemia.
Medications to be aware of include Felodipine, Cyclosporin, Tacrolimus, Zocor, Lipex,Lipitor, Tegretol, Indinavir and Saquinavir.
The health department says no deaths have been recorded as a result of combining grapefruitor grapefruit juice with medications.
AAP RTV jjs/smb/rp
KEYWORD: GRAPEFRUIT (SYDNEY)
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