Warning: Herbal Supplements Don't Always Go Well With Heart Drugs

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PLEASE read what R Sheets of Wa wrote!!!
Read up on herbal supplements, on Rx drugs, on interactions, and on how the (possibly most) powerful lobby influences the FDA... they would love to stop the use of herbs... force treatment(s) to be dictated by the FDA which is heavily influenced by big pharma lobbies ... get the picture?
We need to educate ourselves not only on herbs, various supplements and Rx drugs, but on what big pharma is doing... and wants to do.

nji of GA 3:49PM September 22, 2010

This article lacks facts and comparsions across the table of medications. I have read several of the writes articles and I welcome some of the articles...mainly in Men's Health who she writes for, as well. But unfortunately, herbal meds are somewhat over the writer's head. Herbal meds have been around for centuries and all these newly engineered (drugs) meds are simply money makers and not natural. So please write an article on Herbal Meds vs Clinical Medications and maybe I read your articles again. No one needs to be an expert the see through the BS.

Donald Collier of CA 1:07PM September 22, 2010

Riiiight.

BIG PHARMA of DC 2:15AM May 21, 2010

I totally agree w/Anthony of OH. I worked in Washington DC for lobbiests and saw first hand how FDA approvals are passed. Everything boils down to the almighty dollar; anything can be bought. They (the FDA) said Red Dye #2 and chyclomates and birth control pills and hundreds of other items were good for us and guess what... they aren't. If they are so concerned about herbal and natural interactions, why isn't the FDA investigating these like they are supposed to do w/all medications? Because of the money it takes to do this. The drug companies have plenty and aren’t afraid to spent it because if the FDA approves their drugs, they can charge the public a fortune for them. Well of course there may be some supplements that may interact w/certain meds that people are taking but the same goes w/other medication interactions. Yes, by all means ask your doctor, pharmacist and naturopath what these might be but as the article itself so deftly said...these herbs were "used for centuries for medicinal purposes". This article wants you to beware of natural cures? What about the meds you see advertised on TV... "This med may cause stroke, cancer, heart disease, etc. in some people… but your complexion will be gorgeous!! While I'm not saying to not take the medications your doctor gives you, what I typically do is go to the doctor to get diagnosed, thank him for his prescription and then head go to my naturopath to see if there might be a more natural way to combat what's ailing me. We must be our own advocates.

R Sheets of WA 11:35AM March 10, 2010

Many people taking vitamins and supplements often have difficulty finding one place to find credible, reliable and unbiased information about potential interactions with their medications. It’s apparent that many do not discuss taking vitamins, supplements or other nutritional products with their physicians.
Unbiased and credible information does exist and is available for free at resources.yournaturaloptions.com. The information available on this site is developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts and presented in an easy to understand format. Efficacy of products is graded on a scale from A-F. Alternative references, dosages and background information are also available. Most importantly, an interaction checker is available so that consumers can see how vitamins and supplements may interact with prescription medications.

Mark M Kamp of FL 12:41PM February 08, 2010

hell, is there anything good for you anymore? supplements need FDA regulation like Germany does, but the industry has Sen. Orrin Hatch in its pocket;
www.DMHolmesLaw.com

doug of NC 3:35AM February 06, 2010

IF there were safety concerns I think they would be DIRECTLY POINTED OUT which ones HAVE interactions with each other. Too bad this article doesn't list any. That would be a good article instead of this non fact article.
Hhhmm,...there might be bad side effects from your medications if you take herbs with them? Really? What about the side effects you are already getting from your medications. Oh,...those are ok I suppose, but if you get side effects WHILE taking herbs,....it must br the herbs right????
WAKE UP PEOPLE,...the FDA and BIG PHARMA are in bed together acting like they are regulating while supplements get bad press. All those commercials on TV,...boy they act like they really care.
There is no known disease from low levels of lipitor. Or maybe you can get some of that restasis to accelerate your macular degeneration so you can't READ labels. Try some Viagra while you are at it at the same time.
Just wait till the statin drug dike breaks as the long term effects of prolonged usage drops your cholesterol based hormones to the point you have to take hormone therapy and have to be on meds for your damaged liver and rheumatoid like pain. Or is that the plan. Better living thru chemistry.
If you want to get on the pharmacopia merry-go-round and continue to be uninformed, they already have you hood winked. Keeping you fat, depressed, sick, and ADDICTED to the drug management keeps them all rich. Follow the money trail, your eyes will open sooner.

anthony of OH 12:14AM February 06, 2010

In China, there is a long history of herbs. And herbs have been proved to be effective for centuries by many a trial and forefathers. Yet, the main drawback of many herbs is that the ingredients contained in herbs are not exactly identified untill now, thus it is difficult to determine which components in herbs are likely to interact with other drugs and medications, and leads to dangerous effect.
In my opinion, when you have no connection with illness, it is helpful to take herbs and other natural supplements to take good care of your health, and when disease is coming, in order to be on the safe side, herbs and drugs should be took cautiously.

Jiubiao Guo 10:44PM February 05, 2010

As a registered nurse and a heart patient it saddens me that the media is doing this again. A great deal of doctors, including cardiologists use herbal supplements along with conventional medication in their patient population. Over the years, they have proven safe and effective in the treatment of many cardiac conditions. Everytime a news report comes out like this, there become a great deal of my patients who stop taking the medications and supplements their physicians have "prescibed" them because "if it is reported in the news it must be right!"
Here is some advise to both patients and doctors...for the patient, speak to your doctor about supplements you are interested in and how they will effect you and your medication. Doctors, please be open minded and educated on "alternative therapies". Some of these therapies have been used for hundreds and thousands of years beneficially. The key to any medication regiment whether conventional or alternative is communication among all involved.

RN of OH 4:39PM February 03, 2010

"Unlike prescription medications, which have to pass muster with the Food and Drug Administration to prove they are both safe and effective, herbal supplements do not."
-- Right, they are not drugs. They DO have to "pass muster" with the Food and Drug Administration's DSHEA, which regulates dietary supplements for the safety of the general population. The DSHEA has specific language about contaminants & so on. Herbs are not classed as drugs, nor should they be. But they are under scrutiny by the FDA.
"While a few randomized controlled trials (the gold standard in medical research) have been done, says Jahangir, there is a general lack of evidence about safety and effectiveness of the herbs used for centuries for medicinal purposes."
--They don't know if they're effective, but they've been used for centuries? The RCT is a fairly recent invention of modern, scientific medicine; i.e. the past 160 years. There is plenty of controversy among scientists about the effectiveness of the RCT.
"An important point, he says, is that the herbs have not been investigated in specific populations, like the elderly or immuno-suppressed individuals..."
--The same can be said of drug investigations/trials. Most are conducted on populations of healthy adults. Oh, and btw, there are studies that have been done on specific populations.
If a person is "taking" or "using" herbs in the same way as they take or use drugs, then they need to work with a herbalist, acupuncturist or naturopath. Herbs are NOT drugs and are not meant to be "used" in that fashion.

Lisa of MN 5:39PM February 02, 2010