Sildenafil is a drug used to treat erectile
dysfunction (ED), commonly known as impotence, in men.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
Avoid:Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this
medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results.
Grapefruit juice
Pomegranate juice*
Depletion or interference
None known
Side effect reduction/prevention
None known
Supportive interaction
None known
Reduced drug
absorption/bioavailability
None known
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interaction with Foods and Other Compounds
Grapefruit
juice
In one study, ingestion of 250 ml (approximately 1 cup) of grapefruit juice one hour before
and together with sildenafil increased the total amount of sildenafil absorbed by 23%, but
tended to delay the absorption of the drug.1 The authors of this study recommended
that sildenafil and grapefruit juice not be taken together.
Pomegranate
juice
Pomegranate juice has been shown to inhibit the same enzyme that is inhibited by grapefruit juice.23 The degree
of inhibition is about the same for each of these juices. Therefore, it would be reasonable to
expect that pomegranate juice might interact with sildenafil in the same way that grapefruit
juice does.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
1. Jetter A, Kinzig-Schippers M, Walchner-Bonjean M, et al. Effects of
grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of sildenafil. Clin Pharmacol Ther
2002;71:21–9.
2. Sorokin AV, Duncan B, Panetta R, Thompson PD. Rhabdomyolysis
associated with pomegranate juice consumption. Am J Cardiol 2006;98:705–6.
3. Summers KM. Potential drug-food interactions with pomegranate juice.
Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:1472–3.
The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only.
It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience,
or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur
in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over
the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist
for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in
prescribed medications.
