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Mixing herbs with other medicines
Some herbal products are safe to take with your regular medicine. But mixing herbs with some medicines can be dangerous. For example:
- Garlic can cause bleeding if you take blood thinners (anticoagulants).
- Ginseng may cause low blood sugar if you take diabetes medicine. Ginseng can weaken blood thinners like aspirin and Coumadin® (warfarin).
- St. John's wort may make the side effects of antidepressants worse. It may make the depression return. St. John's wort may affect how well birth control pills work (putting women at risk of pregnancy). It may affect how well medicines work to treat cancer, HIV infection, heart disease and other problems.
Like regular medicines, herbs and vitamins can cause allergic reactions, side effects and bad interactions. Try to think of them like medicine.
- Before using any herbs or vitamins, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe to combine them with the medicine(s) you already take.
- Whenever you get a new prescription, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins you take.
Related Links
Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Source: Allina Hospitals & Clinics; J. Brody, D. Grady, et al, The New York Times Guide to Alternative Health, Times Books, Henry Holt and Company, New York, New York, 10011; National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
First published: 12/13/2001
Last updated: 08/11/2006
Reviewed by: Paul Kleeberg, MD, medical director, Allina.com