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Methadone is a medication for opioid use disorder that can interact with a variety of drugs and other substances, including grapefruit juice.
Understanding the potential risks and effects of this interaction may be important if you or a loved one is taking methadone or plans on taking methadone.
Learn more about negative drug interactions with methadone
How Grapefruit Juice Interacts With Methadone
Grapefruit are a known inhibitor of an enzyme called cytochrome P450 (CYP) 34A, which plays a major role in the metabolism of methadone in the liver.
Regularly drinking grapefruit juice, or eating grapefruit, could increase the levels of methadone in a person’s blood and thereby enhance the effects of methadone.
Is Drinking Grapefruit Juice While On Methadone Dangerous?
Is this dangerous? Not necessarily. But it can be. All in all, it’s generally advised that those who are taking methadone avoid drinking grapefruit juice when possible.
Primary risks of this include:
- respiratory depression
- sedation
- opioid toxicity
Drinking grapefruit juice while on methadone could disrupt a person’s methadone treatment. It can also complicate the process of identifying a correct dose of methadone for stabilization.
What To Do If You’ve Had Grapefruit Juice While On Methadone
If you’ve consumed grapefruit juice while taking methadone, don’t panic. This is generally not dangerous, but it should be avoided when possible.
If you regularly consume grapefruit juice, your doctor may monitor you for potential side effects, including effects on the respiratory system and symptoms of withdrawal.
Call Today For More Information About Methadone
Methadone is a leading treatment for opioid addiction that can be safe and effective when taken as directed. Avoiding grapefruit juice while taking methadone is recommended.
Do you have questions about methadone treatment? Call us today to learn more and to find methadone treatment options for yourself or a loved one near you.
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- Mayo Clinic Proceedings — Drug-Grapefruit Juice Interactions
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)64645-4/fulltext - Online Wiley Library — Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of methadone
https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1016/j.clpt.2004.03.007 - U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed — Opioid Toxidrome Following Grapefruit Juice Consumption in the Setting of Methadone
https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/Fulltext/2020/04000/Opioid_Toxidrome_Following_Grapefruit_Juice.14.aspx
