Herbal Products and Medicines: Avoid Dangerous Combinations

Herbal supplements can affect the body the same way that medicines can. And because nearly half of people age 65 and older take at least five medicines—including herbal products—drug interactions with herbs do happen.

An Issue for Prescription, OTC Drugs

Drug-herb interactions are fairly common, according to one study involving 58 older women published in Geriatric Nursing. After reviewing what medicines and herbs the women took, researchers found at least one moderate or high-risk drug interaction in nearly three-fourths of the women. More than half of these interactions were between prescription drugs and herbal products or overthe- counter medicines.

Combinations of Concern

Some potentially dangerous herb-drug “mixes” include the following:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) plus the herb gingko biloba—used to improve circulation—can cause bleeding.
Echinacea, often used to boost the immune system, can interact with steroid medicines.
Ginseng, often taken for an energy boost, lowers blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar can put you at risk for problems if you are taking drugs for diabetes.

Herbs also can interact with one another. For example, garlic plus ginseng can cause bleeding.

To help you avoid dangerous interactions, talk with your doctor or nurse before taking an herb. This is very important if you already take other medicines—prescription or overthe- counter. If you are planning for a surgery, it’s also smart to tell your doctor everything you take.