Denton County Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 17

Herb-Prescription
INTERACTIONS
P
eople are buying herbal remedies for everything from
migraines to memory preservation to depression.
Where once you had to see an herbalist or naturopath
to get the daily dose of herbs for what ails you, herbal
products are now widely available on the Internet, drug-
stores and health food stores, making the ability to self-medicate
greater than ever. But with opportunity comes a warning: mix-
ing herbal remedies and prescription drugs could be harmful
to your health. Just like drug-drug and drug-food interactions,
herb-drug interactions are very common. Some herbal medi-
cines may cancel the effect of a prescription drug, while others
may reduce or exaggerate it.
Many fail to mention to their physician or pharmacist they are
taking an herbal medicine and this can create problems with
their prescription medication routine. Some of the more com-
mon products used and their effects follow.
Dong Quai is taken for menopausal symptom control. Do not
mix Dong Quai with warfarin (anti-coagulants), St. John’s Wort
and some antibiotics such as sulfonamides, quinolones.
Echinacea is mostly taken as an immune boost to prevent cold
and flu. Do not mix Echinacea with some heart medications,
antifungal medications, HIV medications and anti-anxiety medi-
cations.
Ephedra is a powerful decongestant that contains ephedrine,
which can open up bronchial passages. It is controversial be-
cause it’s a powerful stimulant that can raise blood pressure,
cause insomnia and high blood pressure. Do not mix with
heart medications or if you are being treated for high blood
pressure, glaucoma or thyroid problems.
Feverfew is taken to reduce the severity of migraines. Do not
take with other migraine medications, as it may raise the
heart rate and blood pressure. Feverfew has the potential to
react with warfarin anti-coagulants, increasing the thinning of
blood.
Ginkgo increases blood flow and circulation throughout the
body, can also help improve memory. May interact with anti-
coagulant medications such as aspirin, coumadin, heparin and
warfarin, causing the blood to thin too much, and provoke a
serious bleeding disorder. A report in the New England Journal
of Medicine describes a case of a man who’d been taking as-
pirin to prevent a heart attack and had spontaneous bleeding
into the eye from the iris within a week of taking a daily dose
of ginkgo.
By Dr. Donna Barsky, PharmD
Garlic is thought to help lower cholesterol and prevent the for-
mation of blood clots that could lead to heart attacks. Garlic
capsules may increase blood thinning if you are already on
anti-coagulants. Do not take with diabetes medication because
it may cause decrease in blood sugars.
Ginseng is used to help reduce stress, boost energy and im-
prove stamina, and may also help lower cholesterol. Can cause
nervousness and excitation, and overuse can lead to head-
aches, insomnia and heart palpitations. Can increase blood
pressure. Should not be used if you are taking prescriptions for
high blood pressure or coumadin.
Hawthorn is claimed to be effective in helping reduce angi-
na attacks by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Should not be taken with digoxin, a heart medication. The mix
may lower heart rate too much.
Kava is used to treat anxiety. It is also used to relieve insomnia and
nervousness. Do not take Kava if you have a history of liver prob-
lems. Also, do not mix with antidepressants, sedatives, and do not
mix Kava with alcohol.
Licorice is used to treat coughs, cold and peptic ulcers. High doses
can lead to increased blood pressure, water retention and potas-
sium loss. Do not use with diuretics or digoxin because it could
lead to further loss of potassium, essenti al for heart function.
St. John’s Wort is a natural anti-depressant for mild to moder-
ate depression. Do not take with other anti-depressants, HIV
medications, oral contraceptives, some heart/blood thinning
medications and Tamoxifen (a cancer drug).
Valerian is a mild sedative with hypnotic effects, used to pro-
mote sleep. It should not be taken with alcohol or Valium.
If your physician does not know about interactions with your
medications, ask your pharmacist. Bookstores also have entire
shelves devoted to herbalism these days, and may outline pos-
sible drug interactions. Since herb-drug interactions aren’t pre-
dictable, and are possible – especially if you’re taking a range
of prescriptions and herbal remedies – it’s best to play it safe
and study the herbal medicine before adding it to your pillbox.
One a secondary note, if you have not received your influenza,
pneumonia, and shingles vaccines yet, it would be wise to think
about it. Pneumonia vaccine only needs to be given every 5-7
years, and the Shingles vaccine is a one-time immunization.
If you have any questions or concerns, please, contact
Texas Star Pharmacy @3033 W Parker Rd #100, Plano, TX 75023, 972-519-8475.
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
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