Re: Re: stevia - grapefruit - Ann

[Guest guest]

It could cause a problem depending on the AEDs or other meds that your son

is on. was on diazepam back then, which is listed as one of the meds

affected by grapefruit. (cleared thru the same pathways as grapefruit and I

think some other citric fruits?)

My younger son had been on a reflux med (cisapride/prepulsid) that I

remembered had carried a warning about grapefuit, and when had a

seizure after having the liquid stevia that contained the grapefruit seed

extract, (2 meals I think from memory) I went sarching thru our med cupboard

and found an old pill container of diaz which had the same warning on. Out

of all the years had been on this med on and off, only one pharmacy

had ever printed this grapefruit warning on the label, and that had been

about a yr before starting to use the stevia, so I hadn't remembered

anything about it until a little bell went off about 's reflux med

The problem is that because of the liver clearance conflict, the AED/med

concerned (there are a list of them somewhere, but I don't have it saved,

most of the benzodizepines are included though) stores and builds up in the

blood stream, and basically went toxic on the diaz, which induced a

seizure in him. He was already borderline toxic as it was mind you, and it

wouldn't have taken much to tip him over.

I rang our neuro resident at the time, who then rang the hospital pharmacy

(yes it was an actual hospital prescription that hadn't printed the warning,

grrrrr) to check if this could have been the cause, and they concurred. They

said grapefruit seed extract was not as 'potent' as pure grapefruit

obviously, but that there was still a risk of interaction, that's why the

warnings on these meds should read 'grapefruit and all it's derivatives'.

If your son is not on any meds though, I can't see why it would be a

problem, but if you can find the pure form instead, it might pay to switch

as part of your finetuning.

----- Original Message -----

>

> Dear ,

> Hope you don't mind if I jump in.... I have been using a liquid form

> of Stevia that includes the grapefruit seed extract that you

> mentioned. Can that cause problems with the diet? My son has been

> on the diet for 6 months and we are still struggling. Any

> information would be greatly appreciated!!

>

> Ann