Beware of citrus and drug interactions

You probably have heard that grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with some prescription and over-the-counter medications to cause potentially dangerous results. Among the medications the FDA says are affected by grapefruit are popular cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as Zocor, Lipitor and Pravachol, the blood pressure-lowering drugs Nifediac and Afeditab, and certain antihistamines, including Allegra.

Less well known is that other citrus products and some foods made from them can cause problematic interactions. For example, marmalade is often made from Seville oranges. The FDA says these types of oranges interact with some drugs in the same way grapefruits do. Also avoid tangelos, which are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, although a 2005 USDA study found that tangelos did not adversely interact with statins.

If you take any drugs, check with your doctor and pharmacist about potential interactions. For more, go to 1.usa.gov/grapefruit-FDA.