Herbal Supplements and contraindications

Taking herbal supplements? Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects — especially if you’re facing surgery, you take prescription drugs, you’re pregnant, or you’re a child or senior citizen.

• Echinacea taken with steroids, alcohol or AIDS medications can lead to liver damage.
• Garlic supplements can prevent diabetes medications from lowering blood sugar and increase the risk of bleeding from Coumadin (warfarin).
• Ginkgo can increase blood pressure and act as a blood thinner, so shouldn’t be taken with aspirin, warfarin or MAO inhibitors.
• St. John’s wort doesn’t mix well with antidepressants, anticonvulsants, narcotics, oral contraceptives and Lanoxin (digoxin), a cardiac drug. It can reduce the effect of these drugs and increase the chance of seizures, confusion, nausea and fatigue.
• All herbs with diuretic properties, such as dandelion and juniper, when combined with lithium can increase levels of lithium in the blood and possibly cause slurred speech, confusion, hallucinations, coma, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, low blood pressure and palpitations.

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