Alternative Medicine Forum - Drug Herb Interactions

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Q: Drug Herb Interactions - Danerous?

asked by: Golf55 on December 11th, 2005

New User

Hi

i was ordering some vitamins online and the site - mitamins.Com - had a drug supplement interaction checker.

It said that they were not aware of any interaction between my drugs and this herb so I aske4d my doctor and he said the best way to be sure is to stay away from the herbal remedies when on medication. I am taking drugs for a different thing to what I am taking herbals for.

Is there anywhere else I can get information on drug interactions? Are they really this dangerous?

There is a copy of what they said below: probably better to see it on their site - mitamins

many thanks!

J

your medication summary (click to see interactions with this medicine)
atenolol lipitor prozac

select all adjust your entire formula (according to suggestions from healthnotes)

avoid these supplements avoid all
it is recommended by healthnotes that you should avoid the following supplements because they may seriously interact with the medication you are taking.
St.Johns wort extract 5-htp

limit these supplements limit all
it is recommended by healthnotes that the following supplements should not exceed these limits as this may have a negative effect on your medication.
Vitamin a 5000 iu potassium 100 mg
niacin 60 mg

replenish these supplements replenish all
it is recommended by healthnotes that you increase the level of these supplements as your medication depletes these from your body.
Ginkgo biloba 200 mg coq10 100 mg
folate 400 mcg dhea 50 mg

Replies(7)

majoong

replied on December 13th, 2005

New User

Hi,

there r some truth in that...But there r also some herbal medicine that r neutral to western medications.
Example cordeycep is known to have neutral effects on other medications.

Marcus

majoong

replied on December 14th, 2005

New User

Hi,

i meant that it should able to be consumed together with vitamins.
The fact is I used to have taking it in conjuction with other medications and I see no side effects from it.
Now, I just need to take cordeycep...As it is like a "all rounded" supplement without me having to rely on others.

Rdgs,

marcus

Tamadrummer

replied on December 15th, 2005

Active User, very eHealthy

If you take herbs and spices along with actual prescribed medicine, you can and probably will die prematurly!

I said it before and I will say it again, do not take this junk without first shoing your doc what you want to take and get his/her take on it.

DeniseG

replied on December 30th, 2005

New User

Re: Drug Herb Interactions - Danerous?

Dear j.,

i had experienced these interactions myself the hard way. It made me so sick and my conditions worse. Taking certain herbs regularly can actually change the chemical make-up of your body. My doctor also told me to get off all the herbs I was taking but that I could stick with the vitamins. I kind of went through a withdrawal phase with this. But I realized he was right and I ended up feeling even better later when I got myself back on track again. So, I would just invest in some great quality vitamins that work on the body as a whole, are easy to absorb, and are chelated, to address those conditions you are concerned about....Instead of the herb choices for now.

I have found that meds are fine with my vitamins if I make sure I space them apart throughout the day. But, some meds you need to check into to see what catagory they are in. For example, you don't want to take ginkgo with a blood thinner because it does the same thing. Also, antidepressents you don't want to take with sedating type herbs like valerian or hops.

If you want to talk further feel free to email me. I'd love to hear from you denise

chrisw

replied on January 10th, 2006

New User

Most people that do not understand the herbs and how they react with their medications should not take the herbs. Similar, they are often afraid of them. I have seen this one guy that calls it "junk" post multiple times and it is far from the truth. That is just not an educated statement. However, the herbs can be as dangerous as they are helpful if they are not correct. Many medications are created from these herbs. They can have side affects as well. It is a fact that a pharmacist will know more about drug interactions than a doctor. You might want to consider seeing a holistic doctor if you are serious about replacing any serious medications with herbs. Be sure to do your research before just replacing or adding herbs. I can guess what medication you are on based on the items it told you not to take and items it told you to take. If it is what I think it is, then it would be very dangerous to take st. Johns wort.

Golf55

replied on January 10th, 2006

New User

Thanks chris

i know where youre coming from - it is hard to find information and I have been digging hard. This site Mitamins.Com
provides the checker that I had pasted but its not comprehensive but it does allow custom multivitamin creation so you can choose whats in your multivitamin, (a problem I had before was that I was trying to cut out certain nutrients as a test if that was the problem but also trying to have a comprehensive supply). I found that nih site with reviewed journals are the best for real data as there is so much quackery out there when it comes to herbs! I did speak to a pharmacist and the general advice, as with most doctors / pharmacists is not to take them concurrent with medication. On the other hand this herbalists (with many certificates and not much training) has told me not to take the medication and rely on their (costly and not health insurance covered..) herbal concoctions!. I have stopped listening to advice and I have conducted a proper review of the data and I have been actually cutting down on the herbs, vitamins, minerals, etc and drugs and increasing my exercise and eating better. This seems to be working so far....

Tamadrummer

replied on January 10th, 2006

Active User, very eHealthy

golf55 wrote:

thanks chris

i know where youre coming from - it is hard to find information and I have been digging hard. This site Mitamins.Com
provides the checker that I had pasted but its not comprehensive but it does allow custom multivitamin creation so you can choose whats in your multivitamin, (a problem I had before was that I was trying to cut out certain nutrients as a test if that was the problem but also trying to have a comprehensive supply). I found that nih site with reviewed journals are the best for real data as there is so much quackery out there when it comes to herbs! I did speak to a pharmacist and the general advice, as with most doctors / pharmacists is not to take them concurrent with medication. On the other hand this herbalists (with many certificates and not much training) has told me not to take the medication and rely on their (costly and not health insurance covered..) herbal concoctions!. I have stopped listening to advice and I have conducted a proper review of the data and I have been actually cutting down on the herbs, vitamins, minerals, etc and drugs and increasing my exercise and eating better. This seems to be working so far....

you should be proud of yourself! You have done the research and know the ropes and now you can safely take supplements in moderate quantities and not worry about keeling over.

Like you said, the herbalists get certificates from roadside stands and think they are qualified to treat legit medical problems. My wifes grandfather almost died when his son convinced him to buy herbs and crap and stop taking his congestive heart faliure medicine. Those people should be held more responsible for selling "snake oil". Doctors carry millions in malpractice insurance and they are truly trained and trying to help people get better whereas these voo doo herb doctors have a matchbook degree if that and harm many with no traceable statistics because the fda washes their hands of those people.

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