Home / Health / Doctor Warns: Fruit Juice Ruins Common Allergy Med
Doctor Warns: Fruit Juice Ruins Common Allergy Med
24 Apr
Summary
- Fexofenadine absorption reduced by up to 70% by certain fruit juices.
- Orange, grapefruit, and apple juices block the transporter for fexofenadine.
- Alcohol can worsen hay fever symptoms and increase drowsiness with antihistamines.
An important warning has been issued regarding the common hay fever medication fexofenadine. Dr. Punam Krishan explained that certain fruit juices, including orange, grapefruit, and apple juice, can block the transporter in the gut responsible for absorbing fexofenadine. This interaction can reduce the medication's absorption by as much as 70%, significantly diminishing its effectiveness. Dr. Krishan recommends taking fexofenadine with water and avoiding these fruit juices for several hours before and after consumption.
Furthermore, the health expert cautioned against consuming alcohol while taking antihistamines. Alcohol can not only increase histamine levels, exacerbating hay fever symptoms, but it also acts as a sedative. Combining alcohol with antihistamines may lead to increased drowsiness, reduced alertness, and slower reaction times. Patients are encouraged to consult the NHS website's lookup tool for potential interactions with their medications.
