Sunday, December 03, 2006

[rosacea] Re: supplements

Aurelia,
Thanks for that, I had a little look around and the best I could find to add was this website
http://www.brainybrawn.com/IMCAccess/HerbSuppIntC_lookup.html
If you go into this page, it lists a variety of Herbs and supplements and shows how they interact with other drugs. Once again, it unfortunately isn't how two herbs or supplements will interact with each other, but its one step closer I guess.
I had a quick skim over and found a few things related to a few of the supplements rosaceans commonly use. There were many supplements that were not listed however.
"Aloe vera may enhance the effects of hydrocortisone on swelling. Again, consult with your doctor before using aloe with hydrocortisone for conditions involving inflammation or swelling."
"There have been reports of a possible interaction between garlic and warfarin that could increase your risk of bleeding. Therefore, if you are taking anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications such as aspirin, warfarin, dipyridamole, and indomethacin, you should refrain from consuming large amounts of garlic, either fresh or commercially processed."
"Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the blood-thinning effects of aspirin. While this combination may be helpful in the treatment of some diseases, you should only take omega-3 fatty acids under the guidance and supervision of your healthcare provider."
"Vitamin C taken with aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect the stomach and intestines against injury from these medications. However, high doses of vitamin C (equal to or greater than 500 mg per day) may raise the blood levels of aspirin and other acidic medications. Vitamin C may decrease excretion of acetaminophen in the urine, which may increase blood levels of this medication.
Vitamin C may also affect the levels of furosemide, a diuretic, and propranolol, a beta-blocker; therefore, vitamin C supplements should not be taken at the same time as these medications
Vitamin C can increase levels of estradiol, an ingredient in some birth control medications and hormone replacement therapies. However, vitamin C may offer antioxidant benefits to women taking birth control medications. You should consult your healthcare provider before using vitamin C supplements if you are taking estradiol.
Cyclosporine, a medication used for the treatment of cancer, may reduce blood levels of vitamin C.
The combination of vitamin C with nitroglycerin and nitrate medications (isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate), used to treat heart disease, reduces the occurrence of nitrate tolerance, an effect by which the body becomes accustomed to the medicine and then requires a brief break from it for it to work properly. For example, people taking nitrate-containing medications generally take the medicine for 12 hours and then have a 12-hour time period without the medicine. Apparently, vitamin C makes nitrate tolerance less likely to happen which may, upon further investigation, translate into greater effectiveness of the nitrate medication.
Taking vitamin C with tetracycline, an antibiotic, may increase the levels of this medication. More research is needed to confirm these effects.
Patients taking warfarin, a blood-thinning medication, should not exceed the RDA for vitamin C. There is a remote possibility that vitamin C could interfere with the effectiveness of this medication."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Matt wrote: "I'd be interested to know if there were any other dangerous
combinations of supplements that us Rosaceans take that could be doing
harm."

Excellent question, Matt!

There are sites where you select any two drugs and can then see all known
possible risks from their interactions, but I don't remember if supplements
are included. Perhaps you'd like to scoot into this one, for example, and
see what you can find?

http://www.drugdige st.org/DD/ Interaction/ ChooseDrugs/ 1,4109,,00. html

Kind regards,


Aurelia

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