Q. Because I like grapefruit, my doctor prescribed rosuvastatin (Crestor) instead of a different statin to lower cholesterol. Later, I added 1/4 cup pomegranate juice to my regimen twice a day. Wow! Joint and muscle pain came on suddenly. It hurt.

I stopped Crestor immediately and gradually felt better. My neighbor’s doctor told him pomegranate juice interacts with statins like grapefruit juice does. Who knew?

A. Grapefruit raises blood levels of statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicines such as simvastatin or lovastatin. That could increase the risk for side effects.

Rosuvastatin is not supposed to interact with grapefruit, however. Just the same, there is a case reported in the medical literature of a 48-year-old man who developed a serious complication while taking rosuvastatin with

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