Herbs (Chapter 15) Flashcards
what is a drug ?
a drug is a substance whose therapeutic benefits outweigh the risks
in the US how are supplements regulated ?
considered a subset of food and not regulated as drugs
in Canada how are supplements regulated ?
regulated under the Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate
adverse reactions and manufacturing procedures are screened. If it’s medicinal, clinical trial data is required to support the claim of the market
what are supplements allowed to claim ?
can’t claim to treat a disease, but can claim to improve an aspect of a disease
What does research data on St John’s Wort support ?
a noticeable effect in many cases of light and medium depression, but no significant improvement of severe depression and OCD
How does St John’s Wort work ? (pharmacodynamics)
blocking uptake of neurotransmitters or by inhibiting monoamine oxidase
what are the adverse effects of St John’s Wort
GI disturbance and photosensitivity
what drugs shouldn’t be taken with St John’s Wort ? (4)
drugs that cause these symptoms eg tetracycline
also SJW speeds up excretion of drugs like birth control so don’t take SJW with BC
also bad to mix with prescription medication for depression that increases serotonin
also bad to mix with stimulants that increase neurotransmitters- causes increased BP and HR
what could be an unexpected result of taking St John’s Wort ?
surprise pregnancy
what is it called when you get side effects from mixing antidepressants with St John’s Wort ?
serotonin syndrome
what are symptoms of serotonin syndrome ?
headache, dizziness, ataxia, tachycardia, coma
what is ginko ?
a leaf extract from a tree called ginko biloba
what are two major components of ginko ?
flavone glycosides
ginkolic acid
how is ginko prescribed ?
OTC or prescription strength
what is the main benefit of ginko ?
improves blood flow to certain areas
in which disease can ginko perhaps be beneficial ? (3)
since it improves blood flow, it can be used in senile Alzheimer’s dementia, for impaired circulation of the legs, PMS
what is the suggested mechanism of ginko ?
decreases prostaglandin production and inhibits COX enzymes
what is the main adverse effects of ginko? what drugs should therefore not be taken with it ?
spontaneous bleeding- therefore shouldn’t be taken with other blood thinners
what form of ginseng is more potent?
the Asian one
what is the main benefit of ginseng ?
promotes overall health and wellbeing
what is ginseng normally used for ? (2)
improving menopausal symptoms and reducing flu symptoms
what is the effect of ginseng on blood glucose ?
controversial
what is the ergogenic effect of ginseng ?
controversial
what should ginseng not be taken with ?
anti-coagulant drugs
in general what kind of population should not take ginseng ?
people with a pre-existing disease
it’s more for a healthy person who wants to stay healthy
what is saw palmetto ?
a lipid extract from dwarf berries
in what 4 forms can saw palmetto be taken ?
berries, capsules, tablets, teas
in what 3 forms can ginseng be taken ?
capsules, powder, tea
what population should not take saw palmetto ?
pregnant women
what is saw palmetto scientifically proven to treat ?
benign prostatic hyperplasia - has anti androgenic properties that slow it down
what is kava used for ?
usually socially to get drunk, but also as a treatment for stress and anxiety
what does kava have an effect on ?
the CNS
what are the three roles of kava in the CNS ?
muscle relaxant
antiepileptic
insomnia treatment
compared to benzodiazepines, what is peculiar about kava ?
it doesn’t cause impaired motor skills, but can cause “fun times’