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Sertraline and grapefruit

Posted , 5 users are following.

cherry123
cherry123

Does everyone know that you should not take grapefruit or grapefruit juice while on sertraline..apparently it effects how the sertraline works in your body.  Just thought I'd put it out there for anyone who might not know....I didn't know until recently

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • julie1111
    julie1111 cherry123

    Posted

    hi cheery, thats intresting i didnt know that, wonder why? thanks for posting im on sertraline how are you finding it?  julie
    • cherry123
      cherry123 julie1111

      Posted

      Hi Julie..I started on 50mg over a year ago then was upped to 75mg. I want to wean myself off..I took only 50mg today & am going to see how I get on with that. But I reckon if I'm ok I will do it very very slowly...I definitely find them a great help so am quite nervous about coming off them but I get the most dreadful sweats, not just at night. Hairline & face especially get soaking wet -so embarrassing & very uncomfortable. Hope u are doing ok. 
    • julie1111
      julie1111 cherry123

      Posted

      hi cheery. i have sweated but its not to bad . did u find the sweating got worse when the dose was upped, x
  • itsonlyme
    itsonlyme cherry123

    Posted

    Yes its a good point that never gets told. Grapefruit effects a lot if medication apparently 
  • alinwunterlant
    alinwunterlant cherry123

    Posted

    Thank you for letting me know.  Yugh...grapefruit sounds too healthy for me thoughbiggrin
  • amy89817
    amy89817 cherry123

    Posted

    Grapefruit effects a lot of heart medication (and other medications) and sometimes mimics an overdose of the medication. It usually says in the leaflet that comes with the medication what you should avoid, but definitely speak up your pharmacist tomorrow about it. 
    • cherry123
      cherry123 amy89817

      Posted

      Well fortunately Amy I haven't taken any grapefruit myself while I've been on them but just wanted to  make others aware of this...as you can see not everybody knew
    • amy89817
      amy89817 cherry123

      Posted

      It's scary that people didn't know! I take heart medication which interacts with grapefruit and I was warned by my GP when I was given the prescription, and the pharmacist when given the tablets!  
  • amy89817
    amy89817 cherry123

    Posted

    Just googled it, and on the NHS.co.uk website, it says that it does interact with grapefruit and that will increase the level of sertraline in you blood. So I suggest that you don't have grapefruit until you speak to your GP/pharmacist! 
  • cinzia86145
    cinzia86145 cherry123

    Posted

    Look out for Milk Thistle as well. They stopped my Sertraline completely and I ended up in major withdrawal, despite taking my meds every morning!
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