Analysis of drug interactions involving fruit beverages and organic anion-transporting polypeptides

Recently there has been speculation regarding prescription drug interactions with fruit beverages through inhibition of drug uptake transport by organic anion transporter polypeptides (OATPs). A review of clinical trials indicates that grapefruit juice (GFJ), orange juice (OJ), and apple juice can reduce oral bioavailability of fexofenadine, potentially reducing pharmacodynamic effects of fexofenadine. However, the clinical importance of the interaction is not clearly established. The effect is diminished by temporal separation of fruit juice and fexofenadine administration. GFJ and OJ substantially reduce oral bioavailability of celiprolol, a beta-blocker not available in the United States. Beyond these two examples, other meaningful drug interactions with fruit beverages via OATP inhibition are not established at the present time.