DRUG - HERBAL SUPPLEMENT INTERACTIONS

 

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that individuals with any of the following conditions consult a physician before using herbal supplements: diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, heart disease, psychiatric problems, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, enlarged prostate gland, stroke at some time in the past, or blood clotting problems.

       

TYPE OF DRUG

SOME BRAND NAME EXAMPLES

PROVEN OR SUSPECTED INTERACTIONS BETWEEN DRUGS AND DIET SUPPLEMENTS:

 

Alcohol

 

Beta-carotene, chamomile, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), kava, valerian

 

Anesthetics

 

Kava-kava, valerian, possibly St. John’s wort

Anticonvulsant

Tegretol (Carbamazepine), Dilantin (Phenytoin), and Phenobarbital

High dose folic acid, Ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort, wormwood

Aspirin

 

Vitamin E, Ginkgo biloba, other herbs that interact with warfarin

 

Benzodiazepines

Ativan, Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, Restoril, Dalmane, Librium, Tranxene

 

Kava-kava, melatonin, valerian

Beta-blockers

Inderal, Tenormin, Lopressor, Toprol XL, Normodyne, Visken, Betapace, Zebeta, and Corgard

Huperzine A, St. John’s wort

Cyclosporine

 

Echinacea, St. John’s wort, vitamin E, zinc

Diuretics

HCTZ, Lasix, Bumex, Maxzide, Dyazide, Moduretic, and Demadex

Aloe, goldenseal, licorice

Drugs used to treat HIV infection

 

St. John’s wort

Insulin

 

Chromium Picolinate

Methotrexate

 

Echinacea, high dose folic acid

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Marplan, Nardil, Parnate

Ephedra, ginseng, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), yohimbe, possibly St. John’s wort

Oral Contraceptives

 

St. John’s wort

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft

St. John’s wort

Tamoxifen

Nolvadex®

St. John’s wort

Tetracycline

 

Calcium, St. John’s wort

Thyroid hormone

 

Levothyroxine, Synthroid®

Calcium carbonate, iron (ferrous sulfate)

Tricyclic anti-

depressants

Elavil, Tofranil

Ginkgo biloba, S-adenysylmethionine (SAMe), St. John’s wort, yohimbe

Warfarin

Coumadin®

Angelica root, arnica flower, anise, asafoetida, bogbean, borage seed oil, bromelain, capsicum, celery, chamomile, clove, coenzyme Q10, danshen, devil’s claw, dong quai, fenugreek, feverfew, garlic, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, goldenseal, green tea (in large amounts), horse  chestnut, licorice root, lovage root, meadowsweet, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), onion, papain, parsley, passion-lower herb, poplar, quassia, red clover, rue, St. John’s wort, sweet clover, turmeric, willow bark, vitamin E

          Source:  American Council on Science and Health, 1995 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10023.  Fall 2001.

          Reference listing available upon request from Citrus Memorial Hospital.  Call (352) 344-6568