4 replies to this topic

[Stephenagy]

When I was diagnosed last year, I was advised by my Onc to discontinue consumption of grapefruit juice.  It is my favorite juice and was hard to give up.  Recently, my wife was reading the ingredients of my favorite soap and noticed that an ingredient was grapefruit.  I have found numerous references that recommend no consumption of graprefruit juice.  Nothing says why?  Is it a metabolic reaction with Gleevec?  Can the topical application of grapefruit create an interaction with Gleevec?  If anyone knows, I would be appreciative of the input.

Thanks,

Steve

[soundoff]

Hi Steve,   I believe its due to grapefruit increase's the amount of Gleevec in your system when you take it. For example if you took 400 mg tab and ate a grapefruit you would double the dose to 800 mg in effect. Hope that helps. Not sure about topical use.... 

[Silvernightscape]

I guess that does explain why I developed a rash on my chest when I first started on Gleevec in 2007. I drank grapefruit juice not knowing I wasn't supposed to and I was taking 800MG of it at the time.

[PhilB]

Hi Steve,

The grapefruit juice prevents your liver from metabolising the Glivec.  The result is you stay with a higher concentration of Glivec for longer.  I've seen differing advice on whether you need to avoid it entirely or just around the time you take your Glivec.  In the interests of safety it would probably be best not to eat the soap.

Phil

[Stephenagy]

I will refrain from eating the soap,  Funny.