Supplements, Herbs, Drugs Don’t Mix

Mixing supplements, herbs, over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs can result in dangerous side effects, warns a U.S. doctor.

Many think if a medication doesn’t require a prescription, it must be safe. Not only is that untrue, there could be life-threatening side effects from mixing drugs, according to Dr. George Grossberg of Saint Louis University and author of The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide.

For example, the herb St. John’s wort is often taken for anxiety and depression, but if patients mix it with antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, such as Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil, it may cause serotonin syndrome. Those symptoms include:

— agitation.

— rapid heart beat.

— flushing.

— heavy sweating, which could be fatal.

Dong quai, which some women take for menstrual disorders and to ease symptoms of menopause, has been linked to cardiovascular problems such as irregular heart rhythm and low blood pressure, according to Grossberg.