Question

Mrs. Miller is concemed about her health and decides to make some lifestyle changes to improve her well-being. She decides to start walking 15 minutes every day at lunch time and increase the servings of fruits and vegetables in her diet. She plans to add grapefruit juice at breakfast every morning and large salads at lunch and dinner. Mrs. Miller also plans to start taking American ginseng each day, as she has been encouraged by her friends at the senior center to do for many weeks now, to help boost her endurance and help her stay committed to her new exercise regimen. At her one month follow-up visit with her medical doctor Mrs. Miller reports feeling dizzy and nauseated frequently. Her blood pressure readings are higher than before and her cholesterol level has dropped from a high level of 250 mg/dL to 155 mg/dL --this is too quick of a drop in a one-month time frame. 1. What could be causing the increased blood pressure readings? 2. What could explain the rapid drop in her blood cholesterol level in the past month? 3. Are there any herb-drug interactions to be aware of with taking American ginseng? 4. Why might Mrs. Miller be feeling dizzy and nauseated frequently? 5. What places Mrs. Miller at increased risk for adverse effects from mediations? 6. How could the adverse effects of the medications and herb Mrs. Miller is taking possibly have been prevented? MacBook Air

Answer 1

1. The cause of increased blood pressure is American ginseng. Preliminary evidence suggests that ginseng may lower blood sugar, decrease fatigue or boost the immune system. It also may raise or lower blood pressure. Ginseng is best avoided by patients with high or low blood pressure concerns.

2. The rapid drop in blood cholesterol is also due to intake of American ginseng which reduces the total serum cholesterol and triglycerides that induce fatty liver.

3. Herb - drug interactions :-

Should not be given with MAOI

Should not be given to women with breast cancer ,uterus issues

Interacts with warfarin and hinders it's effect

4. Mrs . Miller is feeling dizzy and nauseated frequently because of high blood pressure caused by American ginseng.