When you take felodipine, a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure. Also known as Plendil, it works by relaxing your arteries so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. But if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while on this medicine, your body can’t break it down properly. That means too much of the drug builds up in your system—potentially leading to dangerous drops in blood pressure, fast heartbeat, or even fainting.
This isn’t just a minor warning. The grapefruit, a citrus fruit known for its tart flavor and high vitamin C content. Also known as pomelo, it contains compounds that block an enzyme in your gut called CYP3A4. That enzyme normally helps clear drugs like felodipine from your body. When it’s shut down, the drug sticks around much longer than it should. One glass of grapefruit juice can mess with your meds for over 24 hours. Even if you take your pill in the morning and drink juice at night, the risk is still there. This interaction isn’t unique to felodipine—it also affects other calcium channel blockers, a class of blood pressure medications that include amlodipine, diltiazem, and verapamil. But felodipine is one of the most sensitive to this effect.
Many people don’t realize how common grapefruit is in breakfasts, smoothies, or even flavored water. If you’re on felodipine, it’s not about cutting back—it’s about avoiding it completely. No exceptions. If you love the taste, try orange juice instead—regular oranges don’t cause this problem. Or switch to a different blood pressure medicine that doesn’t interact with grapefruit, like lisinopril or metoprolol. Talk to your doctor. They can check your current meds and suggest safer alternatives without losing control of your pressure.
You might wonder why this isn’t on every label. It’s because the science is clear, but the advice gets ignored. Studies show that up to 85% of people on felodipine who drink grapefruit juice end up with drug levels that are too high. That’s not a guess—it’s measured in blood tests. And it’s not just older adults. Younger people taking felodipine for high blood pressure are just as at risk. The problem is silent until something bad happens: dizziness in the shower, a fall, a trip to the ER.
There’s no safe amount. No "just a little". If you’re on this medicine, grapefruit is off the table. And if you’re not sure whether your blood pressure drug is affected, check the list of calcium channel blockers. You’ll find that most of them have this same warning. Your pharmacist can help you spot the red flags on your prescriptions. Don’t wait for a side effect to show up. Prevent it before it starts.
Below, you’ll find real-world stories and data from patients who’ve dealt with this interaction, along with safer alternatives, how to read your labels, and what to do if you accidentally ate grapefruit. This isn’t theoretical—it’s something that affects real people every day. Let’s make sure you’re not one of them.
Grapefruit can dangerously increase levels of certain blood pressure medications like felodipine and amlodipine. Learn which citrus fruits to avoid, how the interaction works, and safer alternatives to protect your health.