One of my prescriptions caused a drug reaction with an herbal supplement. Is my pharmacist to blame?

 

A: It seems that everyone knows one person who is taking some form of herbal supplement: ginko biloba for memory, St. John’s Wort for depression - even everyday foods can be said to boost metabolism or fight off a cold.

Unfortunately, if your pharmacist hasn’t done his research, he may not catch a serious drug interaction.

Here are just a few ways medications can interact with herbal supplements:

• Cayenne Pepper supplements may decrease the effectiveness of certain hypertension medications.
• Bromelain is an active enzyme in pineapple. It can be used to aid digestion or to treat inflammation in arthritis, but can be dangerous for people taking anticoagulant medications.
• Black Cohosh, commonly used to treat hot flashes in menopausal women, can interact with other estrogen agents such as hormone therapy or birth control pills.
• Dandelion Root is often used in teas as a diuretic. If a physician prescribes an additional drug with diuretic properties, the patient could suffer severe dehydration or kidney problems.
• Cat’s Claw is an alternative treatment with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, but can increase the risk of serious bleeding if taken with anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Astragalus is a root used to increase energy, but has been known to interfere with immunosuppressive medications.

As experiencedpharmacy error lawyers,we know that pharmacists have a responsibility to keep up on the latest studies in order to prevent harmful prescription drug mistakes. To find out if your pharmacist’s negligence caused your drug interaction injury, click on the link above for a FREE copy of our book, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.