Grapefruit - Baycol (Cerivastatin Sodium) Interaction
Herbal: Grapefruit
Also Known As: Citrus paradisi
Drug: Cerivastatin Sodium
Brand names:
Baycol

Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
May 25, 2025
Interaction Details
Cerivastatin Sodium is classified as belonging to the following category: Organic Anion-Transporting Polypeptide Substrates (Oatp)
Grapefruit juice can decrease levels of drugs that are substrates of OATP.
In vitro and clinical research show that consuming grapefruit juice inhibits OATP, which reduces the bioavailability of oral drugs that are substrates of OATP. Various clinical studies have shown reduced absorption of OATP substrates when taken with grapefruit, including fexofenadine, acebutolol, aliskiren, celiprolol, levothyroxine, nadolol, and pitavastatin. Grapefruit juice is thought to affect OATP for only a short time. Therefore, separating drug administration and consumption of grapefruit by at least 4 hours is likely to prevent this interaction.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
References
- Greenblatt DJ. Analysis of drug interactions involving fruit beverages and organic anion-transporting polypeptides. J Clin Pharmacol 2009;49:1403-7.
- Bailey DG. Fruit juice inhibition of uptake transport: a new type of food-drug interaction. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2010;70:645-55.
- Lilja JJ, Raaska K, Neuvonen PJ. Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of acebutolol. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005;60:659-63.
- Ando, H., Tsuruoka, S., Yanagihara, H., Sugimoto, K., Miyata, M., Yamazoe, Y., Takamura, T., Kaneko, S., and Fujimura, A. Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of pitavastatin and atorvastatin. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005;60(5):494-497.
- Lilja, J. J., Backman, J. T., Laitila, J., Luurila, H., and Neuvonen, P. J. Itraconazole increases but grapefruit juice greatly decreases plasma concentrations of celiprolol. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2003;73(3):192-198.
- Glaeser, H., Bailey, D. G., Dresser, G. K., Gregor, J. C., Schwarz, U. I., McGrath, J. S., Jolicoeur, E., Lee, W., Leake, B. F., Tirona, R. G., and Kim, R. B. Intestinal drug transporter expression and the impact of grapefruit juice in humans. Clin Pharma
- Lilja, J. J., Laitinen, K., and Neuvonen, P. J. Effects of grapefruit juice on the absorption of levothyroxine. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005;60(3):337-341.
- Hu M, Mak VW, Yin OQ, Chu TT, Tomlinson B. Effects of grapefruit juice and SLCO1B1 388A>G polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of pitavastatin. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2013;28(2):104-8.
- Tanaka S, Uchida S, Miyakawa S, Inui N, Takeuchi K, Watanabe H, Namiki N. Comparison of inhibitory duration of grapefruit juice on organic anion-transporting polypeptide and cytochrome P450 3A4. Biol Pharm Bull. 2013;36(12):1936-41.
- Tapaninen T, Neuvonen PJ, Niemi M. Grapefruit juice greatly reduces the plasma concentrations of the OATP2B1 and CYP3A4 substrate aliskiren. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Sep;88(3):339-42.
- Piscitelli J, Nikanjam M, Capparelli EV, et al. Fexofenadine Plasma Concentrations to Estimate Systemic Exposure in Healthy Adults Using a Limited Sampling Strategy with a Population Pharmacokinetic Approach. Ther Drug Monit 2023;45(4):539-545.
Interaction Details
Cerivastatin Sodium is classified as belonging to the following category: Hmg-Coa Reductase Inhibitors ("Statins")
Grapefruit juice can increase blood levels of statins that are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), potentially increasing the effects and adverse effects of these statins. Additionally, grapefruit juice might interfere with the bioavailability of statins that are substrates of organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP).
Clinical research shows that grapefruit juice inhibits metabolism and increases absorption and plasma concentrations of statins that are metabolized by CYP3A4. These include lovastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin. Keep in mind that there is considerable variability in the effect of grapefruit juice on drug metabolism, so individual patient response is difficult to predict.
Some statins, including pravastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, and rosuvastatin, are not metabolized by CYP3A4. However, grapefruit juice might still affect the bioavailability of these statins. These statins are substrates of OATP. Grapefruit juice can inhibit OATP. Therefore, grapefruit juice may reduce the bioavailability or increase drug levels of these statins depending on the type of OATP. However, grapefruit juice affects OATP for only a short time. Therefore, separating drug administration by at least 4 hours is likely to avoid this interaction.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
References
- Kantola T, Kivisto KT, Neuvonen PJ, et al. Grapefruit juice greatly increases serum concentrations of lovastatin and lovastatin acid. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1998 63:397-402.
- Lilja JJ, Kivisto KT, Neuvonen PJ. Grapefruit juice increases serum concentrations of atorvastatin and has no effect on pravastatin. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1999;66:118-27.
- Lilja JJ, Kivisto KT, Neuvonen PJ. Grapefruit juice-simvastatin interaction: effect on serum concentrations of simvastatin, simvastatin acid, and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1998;64:477-83.
- Erlund I, Meririnne E, Alfthan G, Aro A. Plasma kinetics and urinary excretion of the flavanones naringenin and hesperetin in humans after ingestion of orange juice and grapefruit juice. J Nutr 2001;131:235-41.
- Bailey DG, Dresser GK. Grapefruit juice-lovastatin interaction. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:690.
- Lilja JJ, Kivisto KT, Neuvonen PJ. Duration of effect of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A4 substrate simvastatin. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;68:384-90.
- Rogers JD, Zhao J, Liu L, et al. Grapefruit juice has minimal effects on plasma concentrations of lovastatin-derived 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1999;66:358-66.
- Fukazawa I, Uchida N, Uchida E, Yasuhara H. Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and pravastatin in Japanese. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2003;57:448-55.
- Potential drug interactions with grapefruit. Pharmacist's Letter / Prescriber's Letter 2007;23(2):230204.
- Ando, H., Tsuruoka, S., Yanagihara, H., Sugimoto, K., Miyata, M., Yamazoe, Y., Takamura, T., Kaneko, S., and Fujimura, A. Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of pitavastatin and atorvastatin. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005;60(5):494-497.
- Lilja, J. J., Neuvonen, M., and Neuvonen, P. J. Effects of regular consumption of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2004;58(1):56-60.
- Hu M, Mak VW, Yin OQ, Chu TT, Tomlinson B. Effects of grapefruit juice and SLCO1B1 388A>G polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of pitavastatin. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2013;28(2):104-8.
Grapefruit Overview

Grapefruit - More Interactions
Grapefruit interacts with 963 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
Return to the main supplement interaction checker page
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
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.