Drug & supplement interaction

Grapefruit + Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate

Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate brand name: Bevespi Aerosphere.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate falls into 2 drug categories that Grapefruit can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, grapefruit juice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Grapefruit and Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Grapefruit interacts with whole categories of medication. Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Grapefruit in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate

Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES — the group Grapefruit interacts with.

Theoretically, grapefruit juice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.
In vitro research suggests that grapefruit juice might inhibit CYP2C19 enzymes. Also, a small clinical study shows that taking grapefruit juice with clopidogrel, an antiplatelet prodrug that is metabolized primarily by CYP2C19, decreases plasma levels of the active metabolite and impairs the antiplatelet effect of clopidogrel. This effect is likely due to grapefruit-induced inhibition of CYP2C19.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction 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.

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

Let me put your mind at ease a bit here. Bevespi Aerosphere combines two inhaled medicines, formoterol (a long-acting bronchodilator) and glycopyrrolate (a muscarinic blocker), and neither one really depends on the CYP2C19 enzyme that grapefruit can slow down. This interaction was flagged for the whole category of CYP2C19 drugs, but it doesn't fit how these inhaled medicines actually work in the body.

On top of that, you're breathing this in, so very little reaches your bloodstream the way a swallowed pill would. So a glass of grapefruit juice is unlikely to change how well your inhaler works or cause extra side effects like a racing heart or dry mouth. Still, it never hurts to run your full medication list by your pharmacist to be safe.

References
  1. Unger M, Frank A. Simultaneous determination of the inhibitory potency of herbal extracts on the activity of six major cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and automated online extraction. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2004;1 PubMed
  2. Holmberg MT, Tornio A, Neuvonen M, Neuvonen PJ, Backman JT, Niemi M. Grapefruit juice inhibits the metabolic activation of clopidogrel. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Mar;95(3):307-13. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, grapefruit juice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
In vitro research suggests that grapefruit juice might inhibit CYP2C9 enzymes. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction 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.

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

Here's the practical takeaway on combining grapefruit with Bevespi Aerosphere (formoterol and glycopyrrolate). The note on file is based on the idea that grapefruit can block a liver enzyme called CYP2C9, which could let drugs cleared by that enzyme build up. In theory, higher formoterol levels might lead to a faster heartbeat, jitteriness, tremor, or palpitations.

That said, this is a big theoretical caveat. The signal comes only from lab (test-tube) studies, and it has never actually been reported in people. On top of that, Bevespi is an inhaler, so the dose reaching your bloodstream is small. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but if you notice a racing heart or shakiness, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Unger M, Frank A. Simultaneous determination of the inhibitory potency of herbal extracts on the activity of six major cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and automated online extraction. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2004;1 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 776 major, 150 moderate, 63 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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 Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate

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 Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate, 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 Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate

This page covers Grapefruit only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate page lists 129 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 106 moderate · 21 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate page

“If you use Bevespi Aerosphere (formoterol and glycopyrrolate) for COPD, supplement choices deserve real care here, starting with the two entries rated major, henbane and scopolia. Glycopyrrolate already works by blocking acetylcholine, and both of those herbs carry atropine-like alkaloids that pile the same effects on top of it, meanin…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate 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 Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate 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 Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate
Steady interest

#2,038 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.

776Major
150Moderate
63Minor
1,840No known interaction
Major

776 interactions

Showing 60 of 776 major interactions — see all 776 on the Grapefruit page.

Moderate

150 interactions

Showing 60 of 150 moderate interactions — see all 150 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.

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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Grapefruit and Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Grapefruit with Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Grapefruit and Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate?
Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate belongs to more than one drug category, and Grapefruit interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Grapefruit and Formoterol Fumarate, Glycopyrrolate interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

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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.