Supplements Aren't Always Safe | Arthritis Information

Natural Herbal Supplements Aren't Always Safe

Article Date: 14 Aug 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Natural doesn't always mean safe when it comes to herbal supplements, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

When used properly, many herbal supplements may be safe and possibly beneficial to health. However, a few supplements can cause life-threatening problems or dangerous interactions with medications.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers some of the known interactions between herbal supplements and medications:

St. John's wort: This supplement can greatly increase or decrease the potency of many medications and cause serious side effects. Patients who take antidepressants, anti-blood-clotting drugs, certain asthma drugs, immune-suppressing medications or steroids should probably avoid St. John's wort.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e): This can cause serious side effects when taken with antidepressant medications that affect serotonin.

Garlic, ginseng, ginger and feverfew: Patients who take anti-clotting medications such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin) and clopidogrel (Plavix) should avoid these supplements. They may increase the risk of bleeding. Supplements chondroitin and glucosamine also may interfere with warfarin.

Ginkgo: Ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking anti-clotting medications. Ginkgo can counteract the blood pressure-lowering benefits of thiazide diuretic drugs. It also can interfere with anti-seizure medications.

Kava: Kava is a sedative herb and is associated with serious liver problems, even when taken for a short time. Many medications, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, pose a risk of liver damage. Taking kava may increase the risk of liver problems even more.

It's always best to keep health care providers informed about supplement use, especially when starting a new medication or preparing for a medical procedure. Some supplements need to be discontinued two to three weeks before certain surgical procedures, because they affect blood clotting, response to sedation and blood pressure control.

Source: Mayo Clinic I'm confused Lev. Are you selling this product? Hillhoney,

No. Just a heads up to those taking supplements. They can be dangerous alone or with other supplements or drugs.

LEV

Lev, when I became ill a couple of months ago I was instructed to STOP all supplements immediately...even before my appointment for evaluation. One of the physicians told me that no one with an autoimmune disease or osteoarthritis does themselves a favour by taking supplements, especially a great many supplements.

Thanks for the reminder...I have been contemplating taking ginko biloba and milk thistle, even though not recommended by my doctors. I will think again and not do so.
Spelunker,

I used to smoke and had read that certain supplements were proven to reduce the risk of lung cancer in people that smoke and so I started taking the supplements. If you remember some time ago, Lynne49 posted a study that found that altho the derivitives eaten from natural plants and fruits and vegetables did indeed lower the chance of lung cancer in smokers, the dried dirivative supplements taken by smokers was proven to cause cancer in smokers. You just never know.

LEV