Herbs and Pain Relievers Don't Mix
The Dangers of Mixing Herbal Supplements and OTC Pain Relievers
Herbs can be dangerous when mixed with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications. Before you combine herbal supplements and pain relievers, know your risks.
There's no question that the use of herbal supplements has increased markedly in the past few years. But many people taking herbal supplements like ginseng, kava and St. John's wort may be unaware of the of the potential side effect those herbs can have, especially when combined with popular over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers.
Herbs and NSAID-Based Pain Relievers
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are among the most popular over-the-counter pain medications in the North America. Unfortunately, this group of analgesics, which includes aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, have the potential to interact with a wide variety of popular herbs. Especially dangerous are herbs with anti-platelet activity. This includes popular herbal supplements like:
- Bilberry
- Dong quai
- Feverfew
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Ginkgo
- Tumeric
- Willow
Another group of herbs known to interact with NSAIDs are herbs that contain coumarin. Prized for its strong anti-fungal and anti-tumor properties, coumarin is found in herbs like:
- Chamomile
- Fengreek
- Horse chestnut
- Red clover
Herbs and Acetaminophen-Based Pain Relievers
When taking acetaminophen and herbs together, the main issue is liver damage. Acetaminophen can potentially interact with a number of herbs but those herbal supplements with the potential for liver damage, which is known medically as hepatotoxicity, are of special concern. The most popular hepatotoxic herbs include:
- Black cohosh
- Echinacea
- Kava
Another danger inherent to mixing herbs and pain relievers containing acetaminophen is kidney damage, or nephrotoxicity. Anyone taking prescription medications for kidney disease should discuss their use of herbal supplements with a qualified health care professional but a few herbs are actually known to be potentially nephrotoxic even to people with healthy kidneys. The most popular nephrotoxic herbs sold in North America include:
- Chaparral
- Comfrey
- Yohimbe
Herbs and Prescription Pain Relievers
Prescription medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl are strong, effective pain relievers. They are also able to cause marked drowsiness. Combined with sedative herbs, prescription opiates can depress the central nervous system to the point that death occurs. Some of the most dangerous herbs to avoid while taking prescription pain relievers include:
- Chamomile
- Kava
- Valerian
A Final Word on Mixing Herbs and Pain Relievers
This is by no means a complete list of herbs and herbal supplements that can interact with the pain relievers you may be taking. Only a qualified medical professional is qualified to give you medical advice. For more information about possible herb/drug interactions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Remember, if something is strong enough to cause healing, it's also strong enough to have side effects--even if it's an herb.
References:
Abebe, W. (2002). Herbal medication: potential for adverse interactions with analgesic drugs. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
National Kidney Foundation
