Playing it safe with herbal supplements.

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Herbal supplements may not mix with heart medicines

Some herbal supplements can have dangerous interactions with heart medications.

Herbal supplements are natural, so they must be safe, right? Not necessarily. Herbal supplements can have strong effects in the body, and some can interact with prescription medications used to treat heart and circulatory problems, such as high blood pressure and heart failure. Some of these interactions can even be dangerous.

Herbal supplements and prescription medications

At least a quarter of adults who take prescription medications also take dietary supplements, including herbal supplements. That number is even higher among adults older than age 70 — three-quarters report using both prescription medications and dietary supplements.

Yet many herbal supplements interact with medications for cardiovascular disease — which are widely prescribed for older adults. The chances of herbs and drugs interacting are high. Indeed, 8 of the 10 most widely used supplements interact with the blood-thinning medication warfarin (Coumadin). Here are just a few of the herbal supplements that can affect warfarin:

  • Danshen
  • Dong quai
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Garlic
  • Ginkgo
  • Ginseng
  • St. John’s wort

That’s why it’s so important to talk with your doctor before taking herbal supplements if you take prescription medications. Your doctor and pharmacist can help you avoid risky interactions.

Herbal supplements may not mix with heart medicines

Herbal supplements and drug interactions

This table shows popular herbal supplements and interactions with common heart medications. It’s not a complete list, however, so be sure to discuss with your doctor the medications and supplements you take.

Herbal supplement

Medication

Potential effect
Garlic
  • Aspirin
  • Clopidogrel (Plavix)
  • Warfarin (Coumadin)
 Increases risk of bleeding
Ginkgo
  • Aspirin
  • Warfarin
 Increases risk of bleeding
Ginseng
  • Warfarin
 Decreases effectiveness of warfarin
Hawthorn
  • Beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin), nadolol (Corgard) and propranolol (Inderal, Innopran XL)
 Increases blood pressure and heart rate
  • Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, others), nifedipine (Procardia) and verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS,Verelan)
  • Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin (Nitro-Bid, Nitrostat,others) and isosorbide (Monoket, Isordil)
 Decreases blood pressure
  • Digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin)
 Increases effects of digoxin
Licorice
  • Warfarin
 Decreases levels of warfarin
St. John’s wort
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Digoxin
  • Warfarin
  • Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
  • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
  • Statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor)
 Reduces effectiveness of drugs

If your doctor tells you it’s OK to use an herbal supplement combined with a medication, make sure you follow dosing instructions carefully. Watch for any unusual signs or symptoms that you could be having a drug interaction, such as rapid heartbeat, low blood sugar or changes in blood pressure.

Source:Mayo Clinic.

 

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