Clomipramine/Grapefruit Juice Interaction
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug, changing your diet or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Very important. A change in your diet, medicine, or dosage may be necessary. Promptly consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How the interaction occurs:
Grapefruit juice decreases the ability of your gut to process clomipramine.
What might happen:
The level of this drug can increase in your blood. You might experience drowsiness, confusion, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, dry skin, palpitations, increase in heart rate, blurred vision
What you should do about this interaction:
While you are taking this medicine, you should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice at any time. You may choose an alternative citrus beverage (such as orange juice). In the event that you are instructed by a healthcare professional (e.g., doctor, pharmacist, or dietitian) to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, you should immediately discuss with doctor the effects of grapefruit on the blood levels of this medicine.Your healthcare professionals may be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change your medicine or diet before checking with them first.
References:
1.Lown KS, Bailey DG, Fontana RJ, Janardan SK, Adair CH, Fortlage LA, Brown MB, Guo W, Watkins PB. Grapefruit juice increases felodipine oral availability in humans by decreasing intestinal CYP3A protein expression. J Clin Invest 1997 May 15;99(10):2545-53.
2.Oesterheld J, Kallepalli BR. Grapefruit juice and clomipramine: shifting metabolitic ratios. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1997 Feb;17(1):62-3.
