What types of drugs may interact with grapefruit juice?

Grapefruit juice is known to interact with various medications, particularly those metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, especially CYP3A4. This enzymatic interaction can significantly increase the bioavailability of certain drugs, leading to heightened effects or potential toxicity.

Calcium channel blockers and statins are well-documented as classes of medications that can experience interactions with grapefruit juice. For example, statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin can have their levels increased by grapefruit juice, leading to a higher risk of side effects such as muscle pain or liver damage. Similarly, certain calcium channel blockers can also have increased pharmacological effects when co-administered with grapefruit juice, which can raise the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

Other medication classes, such as penicillins, antivirals, antidepressants, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids, generally do not have significant interactions with grapefruit juice, making them less relevant in this context. The influence of grapefruit juice on drug metabolism primarily involves those that utilize the CYP3A4 pathway, which explains why calcium channel blockers and statins are the correct answer when considering the types of drugs that may interact with grapefruit juice.