Drug & supplement interaction

Grapefruit + Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine

Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine brand name: Colytrol.

Major Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Major

Grapefruit has a major interaction with Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine. Grapefruit juice can increase blood levels of scopolamine, potentially increasing the effects and adverse effects of scopolamine.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Grapefruit and Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Major

SCOPOLAMINE (Transderm Scop)

Grapefruit juice can increase blood levels of scopolamine, potentially increasing the effects and adverse effects of scopolamine.
Clinical research shows that grapefruit juice can inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) metabolism of scopolamine, increasing its absorption and plasma concentrations. Oral bioavailability of scopolamine can increase by 30% when administered with 150 mL of grapefruit juice.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the deal with grapefruit and scopolamine. Your body normally uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to break this medicine down. Grapefruit blocks that enzyme, so more scopolamine ends up in your bloodstream. In one study, drinking about 150 mL of grapefruit juice raised the amount absorbed by roughly 30 percent. Scopolamine is active as-is (not a prodrug), so more of it simply means stronger effects.

That can mean more of scopolamine's usual side effects: dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, constipation, or trouble urinating. Older adults may feel especially confused or foggy. Please don't change anything on your own. Just ask your pharmacist or doctor whether grapefruit is okay while you're on this medication.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Ebert U, Oertel R, Kirch W. Influence of grapefruit juice on scopolamine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in healthy male and female subjects. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;38:523-31. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Grapefruit Also Interacts With Other Medications

Grapefruit has 775 major, 151 moderate, 63 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 775 Moderate 151 Minor 63 No known interaction 1,841 (incl. Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Grapefruit

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Grapefruit. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Grapefruit or Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Grapefruit or Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine

This page covers Grapefruit only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine page lists 49 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Angel's Trumpet (moderate) and Bacopa (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 32 moderate · 13 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine page

“Piling on more of the same drying, sedating anticholinergic effect is the central worry with atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine (sold together as Colytrol), and I'd approach this list with genuine care. Thirty of the herbs on file act the same way these drugs do, so pairing them can stack up dry mouth, blurred vision, racing heart,…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Grapefruit as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,144 real supplement products containing Grapefruit, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Grapefruit. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine too, on top of Grapefruit — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Grapefruit and Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Grapefruit
Top 10%

#106 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine
Steady interest

#2,135 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Grapefruit

What is Grapefruit?

Grapefruit
  • Source of vitamin C
  • Digestive complaints
  • Antimicrobial (seed extract)
  • Weight management
  • Skin and cosmetic uses

Grapefruit is a nutritious citrus fruit rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, and it is generally safe to eat. However, grapefruit is famous for serious interactions with many prescription medicines, so anyone taking medication should check with a pharmacist or doctor before consuming it regularly.

Read the full Grapefruit monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Grapefruit

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Grapefruit — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

775Major
151Moderate
63Minor
1,840No known interaction
775 Major 151 Moderate 63 Minor 1,840 No interaction
Major

775 interactions

Showing 60 of 775 major interactions — see all 775 on the Grapefruit page.

Moderate

151 interactions

Showing 60 of 151 moderate interactions — see all 151 on the Grapefruit page.

Minor

63 interactions

Showing 60 of 63 minor interactions — see all 63 on the Grapefruit page.

No interaction 1,840 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Grapefruit against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,840 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Grapefruit list.

See the full Grapefruit interactions page
See every supplement checked against Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Grapefruit monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Grapefruit and Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Grapefruit with Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Grapefruit and Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine and Grapefruit?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.