Nowadays, most prescribed medications come with many warnings, side effects and interactions. “May cause drowsiness,” “do not take this medicine while operating heavy machinery," or “do not take more than prescribed,” are just a few of the warnings printed on prescriptions.

For almost two decades, physicians and pharmacists have been aware of the adverse effects of grapefruit juice and prescribed medications. Review the following compiled list of research facts and findings on grapefruit juice and prescriptions drug interactions:

The substance contained in grapefruit, furanocoumarins affects how the body absorbs specific prescriptions; including the following: antihistamines, blood pressure medications, cholesterol-lowering drugs and certain erectile dysfunction drugs.

Normally, these drugs are partially blocked from entering the body by an enzyme in the intestine.

The substance in grapefruit, furanocoumarins prevents enzymes of certain prescriptions from working, enabling potentially toxic levels of drugs to enter the body, which is attributed to organ damage.

Clinical trials on measuring the prescriptions absorption rate in patients drinking one of the following on grapefruit, orange and grapefruit juice without furanocoumarin, was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The findings confirmed that furanocoumarins, the active ingredients in grapefruit juice is authentically the end result of the interaction between medications.

Certain medical researchers recommend that a commercially available grapefruit juice should be manufactured without furanocoumarins as an alternative for patients who are taking using medications without interaction.

Medication tip: Before you take any new prescription, review all instructions. Pay close attention to any warnings, interactions, and other mission critical directions of use. Make sure that none of your other medicines; herbal supplements or over-the-counter (OTC) medications interact with grapefruit juice.