Posted by ST on February 3, 2002, at 4:45:43
In reply to Valerian and ADs; for ST (Sarah) and others..., posted by sid on February 2, 2002, at 12:51:04
> I finally saw my pharmacist and she gave me an ouput out of
> http://www.naturaldatabase.com/; unfortunately, you have to be a member to see the info.
> Let me summarize the info on "Interactions with Drugs":
> - with alcohol: can potentiate the sedative effects of alcohol;
> - with barbiturates: theoretically, can cause additive therapeutic and adverse effects;
> - with other drugs with sedative properties: theoretically, can cause additive therapeutic and adverse effects;
> - with other drugs: preliminary evidence that valerian can inhibit the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 3A4 enzyme. So Theoretically, valerian might increase the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP450 3A4. However this interaction has not been reported in humans (printout: Jan 28, 2002).
>
> I then have a list of drugs that are metabolized by CYP3A4; there are MANY of them, so I can't write them all in. The document is in French, from a pharmacology periodical (Québec Pharmacie, vol. 45, 28, sept.1998, p.735). Some of them are:
> amitriptyline
> venlafaxine (Effexor)
> acetaminophen
> cannabis
> cocain
> eostrogen (oral contraceptive)
> clonazepam
> buspirone
>
> There are MANY others, consult your pharmacist for more info.
>
> There are also inhibiting and inducting interactions with other drugs, but I don't have details.
>
> So that's why my doc wants me to be cautious and not use valerian to help me sleep while I take Effexor XR.
>
> The pharmacist mentioned that an alternative to valerian to help me sleep could be benzenes that are not oxidated (translation?). I have yet to discuss that with my doc...
>
> Anyway, I hope it answers some questions. For more details you will have to discuss with your docs and pharmacists, that's all I have!
>
> - sid
poster:ST
thread:92615
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92689.html