Does Grapefruit Juice Interact with Tacrolimus?
CDI records a contraindicated classification for Grapefruit Juice and Tacrolimus. The stored summary is: Strong CYP3A inhibitor that may increase tacrolimus concentrations and risk of serious adverse reactions including neurotoxicity and QT prolongation. The mechanism involves cyp3a inhibition. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Contraindicated
- Tacrolimus Class
- Calcineurin Inhibitor Immunosuppressant
- Management
- Do not take together
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
CYP3A inhibition
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Grapefruit Juice and your doctor is considering prescribing Tacrolimus (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask about alternative medications that do not interact with your current regimen
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider