Question

Many of your patients may ve taking herbal, homeopathic, or other alternative medicines and supplements. Please list one of these and tell us what it is supposed to help with. Are there any interactions with prescription medications?

Answer 1

Many patient usually takes herbs . There are several herbs which have some beneficial effect on human being but some of them have adverse interaction with prescribed medication .

List of some commonly used herbs

Cranberry

Saw palmetto

Soy

Garlic

Ginko

Hawthorn

Well will see about cranberries

Uses of cranberries

1) Urinary tract infection

Cranberries are most useful in urinary tract infection especially for those patients which have recurrent infection . It is thought that cranberries have high antioxidant which stop the growth of certain bacteria in urinary tract wall

2) cardiovascular disease

Polyphenols present in cranberries are helpful in CVS disorders

3) dental problems

Proanthocyanide present in the cranberries helpful in dental problem .It is thought that cranberries are helpful in gum disease

4) beingn prostate hyperplasia

It is thought that if you take cranberries juice for 6 months the biomarkers for the BPH. Is reduced

5) cranberries are helpful in stomach ulcers caused by h pylori

Now we will look for some interaction with the medically prescribed drugs

Most comman interaction of cranberries are seen with

1) warfarin ( coumadin)

2) dicumarol

3) anisindion (miradon)

Cranberry interact with CYP450 and reduces the metabolism of warfarin . Hence increase the chance of brusing and bleeding

Other medication which are metabolised or changed by liver have interaction with cranberries like

Diclofenac

Fluvastatin

Ibuprofen

Phenytoin

Hence it is useful to tell your doctor what type of herb you are taking so that dose of the prescribed drug dose can be alter

I hope you find this helpful thank you ☺️