Drug interactions
Grapefruit + Nimodipine
Severity: Moderate
Grapefruit and Nimodipine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Grapefruit juice inhibits intestinal CYP3A4 and can increase nimodipine bioavailability. This may produce greater hypotension, flushing and headache.
What this interaction means in plain words
Grapefruit and Nimodipine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Furanocoumarins in grapefruit inhibit intestinal CYP3A4, reducing first-pass metabolism of nimodipine.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during nimodipine therapy. Monitor blood pressure if intake cannot be avoided.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Nimodipine
- Apalutamide + Nimodipine Major
- Carbamazepine + Nimodipine Major
- Ceritinib + Nimodipine Major
- Clarithromycin + Nimodipine Major
- Cobicistat + Nimodipine Major
- Darunavir + Nimodipine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Grapefruit with Nimodipine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Grapefruit and Nimodipine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Grapefruit juice inhibits intestinal CYP3A4 and can increase nimodipine bioavailability. This may produce greater hypotension, flushing and headache.
How serious is the interaction between Grapefruit and Nimodipine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during nimodipine therapy. Monitor blood pressure if intake cannot be avoided.
What other medicines interact with Nimodipine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nimodipine with, for example, Apalutamide, Carbamazepine, Ceritinib. The full list is on the Nimodipine page.
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