Introduction

This page provides information about incompatibilities between Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals

Disclaimer

The content of this page is by no way exclusive.

One should not conclude that there is no incompatibility between a Pharmaceutical and a Nutraceutical only because there is no mention of it in this page.

The first Pharmaceuticals to be addressed are those with a narrow therapeutic window. A Pharmaceutical has a narrow therapeutic window when its usefull dose is close to its toxic dose. Its bloodlevel can escape the (safe) therapeutic level when affected by a concomitant Nutraceutical therapy.

Index

Pharmaceutical :

Acuprin, Amaryl tablets, Butalbital , Coumadin tablets, Coumadine for injection, Crystodigin Tablets, Diabeta tablets, Diabinese , Digoxin Elixir, Digoxin Tubex, Digoxin Injection, Digoxin Tablets, Encotrin enteric coated aspirin, Endodan, Equagesic, Excedrin, Fiortal, Florinal, Gelpirin, Glucophage, Halfprin, Insulin, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxil Elixir Pediatric, Lanoxil Injection Pediatric, Lanoxin Tablets, Lortab, Metocarbamol, Norgesic, Percodan, Precose, Propoxyphene, Robaxisal, Roxiprin, Soma compound, Synalgos, Talwin compound

Nutraceutical :

Adonis, Alfalfa, Arnica, Broom, Cayenne, Celery, Chamomile, Chromium, Dan-shen, Darvon Compound-65, Dogbane, Dong quai, False hellebore, Fenugreek 1, and 2, Feverfew, Figwort, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng 1, and 2, Ginseng (Siberian ), Karela, Kyushin, Lily of the valley, Milkweed, Motherwort, Naphtoquinones, Pheasant 's eye, Pleurisy root, Purple foxglove, Quinine, Strophantus, Uzara root, Vitamin K, White squill, Wild ipeca, Yellow foxglove

Plant's latin name :

Adonis vernalis, Allium sativum, Angelica sinensis, Anthemis nobilis, Apocynum androsaemifolium, Apocinum canabinum, Apium graveolens, Arnica montana, Asclepias tuberosa, Capsicum, Chinchona, Chrysanthemum parthenium, Convallaria majalis, Cystisus scoparius, Cytisus scoparius, Digitalis lanata, Digitalis purpurea, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Foenum graecum 1, and 2, Ginkgo Biloba, Leonurus cardiaca, Medicago sativa, Momordica charantia, Panax ginseng 1 , and 2, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Scilla maritima, Strophantus kombe, Uzarae radix, Zingiber Officinalis

Digoxine

If you are taking one of the following Pharmaceuticals containing digoxine or a related compound :

Lanoxicaps, Lanoxil Elixir Pediatric, Lanoxil Injection Pediatric, Lanoxin Tablets (Glaxo Wellcome)
Crystodigin Tablets (Lilly)
Digoxin Elixir (Raxane)
Digoxin Injection (Elkins-Sinn)
Digoxin Tablets (Alra)
Digoxin Tubex (Raxane)

Be aware that any of the following Nutraceuticals may interfere with its activity, because the nutraceutical contains a digoxin-like compound or because the Nutraceutical reduces digoxin excretion or increases its absorption.

Adonis vernalis Also named: Adonis, False hellebore, Pheasant 's eye .
Apocynum androsaemifolium and canabicum Dogbane, Milkweed, Wild ipeca
Apocinum canabinum Scrofularia nodosa Figwort
Asclepias tuberosa Pleurisy root
Convallaria majalis Lily of the valley
Cystisus scoparius Broom
Digitalis lanata Yellow foxglove
Digitalis purpurea Purple foxglove
Eleutherococcus senticosus Siberian Ginseng, kyushin (chinees medicine)
Leonurus cardiaca Motherwort
Scilla maritima White squill
Strophantus kombe Strophantus
Uzarae radix Uzara root

Interference may also arise from adulteration of another Nutraceutical with one of the above.

Various lots of plantain (an herbal laxative) have been adulterated with potentially toxic Woolly foxglove, resulting in a FDA advisory.

The product "Chomper" of the Cleanse Thyself Line from the Aris and Shine Company, Mount Shasta, Calif. contained Foxglove.

Food and Drug Administration. 1997.

Another interference may occur in laboratory tests to monitor the drug levels in digoxine treated patients. Ginseng and kyushin falsely elevate digoxin blood level.

Blood tinner

Warfarin is an anticoagulant with a narrow therapeutic range, Complications may arise if your Warfarin dose escapes the range on either ends of the range. On one end bleeding may occur, on the other end you are no longer protected from possible coagulation.

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirine) also influences coagulation.

If you are taking one of the following Pharmaceuticals containg Warfarin or acetyl salicylic acid (Aspirin) :

Acuprin(Richwood)
Butalbital(Watson)
Coumadin tablets, Coumadine for injection (DuPont Pharma)
Darvon Compound-65(Lily)
Endodan(Endo generics)
Encotrin enteric coated aspirin(SmithKline)
Equagesic(Wyeth-Ayers)
Excedrin(Bristol-Meyer)
Fiortal(Geneva)
Florinal(Novartis)
Gelpirin(Alra)
Halfprin(Kramer)
Lortab(UCB)
Metocarbamol(Par)
Norgesic(3M)
Percodan(Endo labs)
Propoxyphene(Teva)
Robaxisal(Robins)
Roxiprin(Roxane)
Soma compound(Wallace)
Synalgos(Wyeth-Ayers)
Talwin compound(Sanofi)

Be aware that the following Nutraceuticals may interfere with their activity :

Easier bleeding :

Allium Sativum Garlic
Angelica sinensis Dong quai
Anthemis nobilis Chamomile
Apium graveolens Celery
Arnica montana Arnica
Capsicum Cayenne
Chinchona Quinine
Chrysanthemum parthenium Feverfew
Foenum graecum Fenugrec
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Ginkgo Biloba
Salvia miltiorrhiza Dan-shen
Zingiber Officinalis Ginger

Easier coagulation :

Medicago sativa Alfalfa
Naphtoquinones Vitamin K
Panax ginseng Ginseng

Antidiabetics Agents

If you are taking one of the following Pharmaceuticals :

Amaryl tablets Hoechst Marion Roussel
Diabeta tablets Hoechst Marion Roussel
Diabinese Pfizer
Glucophage Bristol Meyers Squibb
Insulin
Precose Bayer

Be aware that the following Nutraceuticals may interfere with their activity :

Reduce glucose level in blood :

Chromium
Foenum-graecum Fenugreek
Momordica charantia Karela

Increase glucose level in blood :

Cytisus scoparius Broom
Panax ginseng Ginseng