Herbal Medications

Question 1

Echinacea use

Answer 1

Decrease duration and intensity of colds

May increase cytokine production, anti-inflammatory, i

Question 2

Echinacea adverse/drug interactions

Answer 2

Don’t give to pts w/ immune deficiencies

Allergic rash

Question 3

Ginkgo Use

Answer 3

Improve memory
Tx/ prevention of Alzheimer’s and dementia
Potentially does so by restoring 5-HT1A receptors

Question 4

Ginkgo adverse/drug interactions

Answer 4

Nausea/headache/diarrhea
bleeding-may have antiplatelet actions, do not use w/ patient on warfarin
May induce seizures in seizure prone individuals

Question 5

Garlic uses

Answer 5

Atherosclerosis
High cholesterol
Hypertension

Question 6

Garlic adverse/drug interactions

Answer 6

Increase bleeding->discontinue 7 days prior to surgery

Induces p-glycoprotein drug transporter in the intestine

Question 7

Ginseng use

Answer 7

Support overall health and boost immune system, stamina, mental and physical performance.

Question 8

Ginseng adverse/drug interactions

Answer 8

CNS stimulation at high doses
Irritability, sleeplessness
Do NOT use in pts w/ autoimmune disorders
Antiplatelet activity

Question 9

Milk thistle uses

Answer 9

Liver disease-cirrhosis, drug induced hepatotoxicity, hepatitis

Question 10

St. John’s Wort use

Answer 10

Mental disorders, esp. mild to moderate depression=>inhibits reuptake of serotonin

Question 11

St. John’s Wort adverse/drug interactions

Answer 11

Induce hepatic CYP enzymes=> decreased serum concentrations of different drugs

Question 12

Saw palmetto use

Answer 12

Treatment of Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Question 13

Glucosamine and Chondroitin use

Answer 13

Osteoarthritis

Question 14

Glucosame and Chondroitin adverse interactions

Answer 14

enhance the effects of warfarin

Question 15

Melatonin use

Answer 15

Tx of insomnia, improving morning alertness and quality of sleep

Question 16

Melatonin adverse/drug interactions

Answer 16

Should not be used by men or women when attempting to conceive

Question 17

Butterbur use

Answer 17

Migraines

Question 18

Feverfew use/Adverse

Answer 18

Tx of migraines
Adverse=mouth ulceration
decrease uterine contractions
anticoagulant effects

Question 19

Coenzyme Q10 use

Answer 19

Reduction of statin-induced myopathy
HTN
Ischemic heart disease
Parkinson's 
Migraine

Question 20

CoQ10 adverse/drug interactions

Answer 20

Similar in structure to VitK, do not use in pts taking warfarin

Question 21

Fish Oil use

Answer 21

Hypertriglyceridemia

CV disease