6 Herbal Supplements

Question 1

Echinacea

Answer 1

Indications:
-Enhance immune system; anti-inflammatory

Drug Interactions:
-Amiodarone & anabolic causing hepatotoxicity

Teaching:
-Watch for liver damage

Question 2

Garlic

Answer 2

Indications:
-Decreased cholesterol & blood pressure, anticoagulation

Drug interactions:
-Aspirin, NSAIDs, warfarin, insulins and oral hypoglycemics

Teaching:
-Watch for bleeding, lower glucose levels

Question 3

Saw Palmetto

Answer 3

Indications:
-Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH

Drug Interactions:
-Aspirin, NSAIDs, warfarin, oral contraceptives and estrogen

Teaching:
-Watch for bleeding, estrogen levels

Question 4

Ginkgo

Answer 4

Indications:
-Improve memory, reduce dizziness

Drug interactions:
-Anticonvulsants, aspirin and NSAIDs, anticoagulants, antidepressants

Teaching:
-Risk of seizures, increased bleeding, decrease in seizure threshold

Question 5

Ginseng

Answer 5

Indications:
-relieve stress, enhance immune system, decrease fatigue

Drug interactions:
-CNS depressants, digoxin, diuretics, insulin and hypoglycemics, warfarin

Teaching:
-decrease anticoagulant effects, digoxin toxicity, increased sedation, increased hypoglycemic effect

Question 6

St. John’s Wort

Answer 6

Indications:
-Reduces depression & anxiety, anti-inflammatory

Drug Interactions:
-Warfarin, antidepressants, antiretrovirals, CNS depressants and analgesics

Teaching:
-Decreased anticoagulant effects, increased sedation, decreased antiretroviral activity

Question 7

Echinacea

-Indications

Answer 7

Enhance immune system

Antiinflammatory

Question 8

Echinacea

-Drug Interactions

Answer 8

Amiodarone and anabolic causing hepatotoxicity

Question 9

Echinacea

-Teaching

Answer 9

Watch for liver damage

Question 10

Garlic

-Indications

Answer 10

Decreased cholesterol
Reduce blood pressure
anticoagulation

Question 11

Garlic

-Drug interactions

Answer 11

Aspirin
NSAIDs
Warfarin
Insulin
Oral hypoglycemics

Question 12

Garlic

-Teaching

Answer 12

Watch for bleeding

lowered glucose levels

Question 13

Saw Palmetto

-Indications

Answer 13

Treatment of BPH

Question 14

Saw Palmetto

-Drug Interactions

Answer 14

Aspirin
NSAIDs
Warfarin
Oral contraceptives
Estrogen hormones

Question 15

Saw Palmetto

-Teaching

Answer 15

Watch for bleeding

Estrogen levels

Question 16

Ginkgo

-Indications

Answer 16

Improve memory

Reduce dizziness

Question 17

Ginkgo

-Drug interactions

Answer 17

Aspirin
NSAIDs
Anticonvulsants
anticoagulants
antidepressants

Question 18

Ginkgo

-Teaching

Answer 18

Risk for seizures
decrease in seizure threshold
Increased bleeding

Question 19

Ginseng

-Indications

Answer 19

Decrease stress & fatigue

Enhance immune system

Question 20

Ginseng

-Drug Interactions

Answer 20

Warfarin
Digoxin
Diuretics
Insulin and hypoglycemics
CNS depressants

Question 21

Ginseng

-Teaching

Answer 21

Decrease anticoagulant effects
Digoxin toxicity
Increased sedation
Increased hypoglycemic effect

Question 22

St. John’s Wort

-Indications

Answer 22

Reduces depression
Reduce anxiety
Anti-inflammatory

Question 23

St. John’s Wort

-Drug interactions

Answer 23

Warfarin
Analgesics
CNS depressants 
Antidepressants
antiretrovirals

Question 24

St. John’s Wort

-Teaching

Answer 24

Decreased anticoagulant effects & antiretroviral activity

Increased Sedation