|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Karla Gale
ORLANDO, Fla., Mar 13 (Reuters Health) - People who are taking the antihistamine Allegra (fexofenadine) may want to take the drug with water instead of fruit juice, researchers suggested at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
When 10 healthy individuals took Allegra with fruit juice, they absorbed only about one third as much of the drug as when they took it with water.
"With that level of inhibition, patients are not likely to experience allergy relief," Dr. George K. Dresser, instructor and investigator with the department of internal medicine at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, told Reuters Health.
In the study, Dresser and colleagues looked at the absorption of Allegra when given with water, grapefruit juice, orange juice or apple juice. All three juices interfered with absorption of the drug.
"The effect of grapefruit juice lasts for more than 24 hours," he added, "so our research suggests that for the best absorption of fexofenadine, that these juices be excluded from the diet."
Past studies have found that grapefruit juice can either boost or inhibit the absorption of many different types of drugs, including HIV-fighting protease inhibitors, the anti-cancer agent vinblastine, cyclosporine (used in fighting organ rejection after transplant), the antihypertensive losartan, and the heart medication digoxin.
To be on the safe side, Dresser suggested, it may be best to take all medications with water to ensure that appropriate levels of the drugs reach the bloodstream.
| Health Topics | Drug Information | Dictionaries | Directories | Other Resources |
|
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
Copyright and Privacy Policy, We welcome your comments. Last updated: 14 March 2001 |