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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Amandafran on January 10, 2007, at 19:04:56
Does anyone know if it is safe to take KAVA KAVA along with other antidepressants and mood stabilizers? I am currently on 5 different meds and yet I have heard great things about Kava Kava but didnt know if it would harm me mixing it...I take prozac,lamictal,Requip, abilify, (lunesta, sonata, and flexeril...as needed....
I have a bottle of it but have been to scared to try it along with my other meds...
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 11, 2007, at 2:11:23
In reply to KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by Amandafran on January 10, 2007, at 19:04:56
I wouldn't try taking kava kava along with your prescription meds. There have been some cases of liver toxicity in people, particulary amongst those who are also taking a variety of prescription meds. It seems to be relatively safe on its own, but I really wouldn't mix it with conventional meds. Livers are just too precious.....
Posted by nolvas on January 11, 2007, at 2:29:38
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 11, 2007, at 2:11:23
I agree with meri-tuuli you should exercise caution. However there is no evidence at all that Kava causes liver toxicity. The safest thing to do is look how Kava has been used traditionally...
Kava has been used safely for thousands of years, if you use Kava in the traditional manner then there is no reason to not believe it is safe. No one knows fully the interactions between Kava and other meds and the implications of mixing Kava with other meds. One thing I will tell you is that mixing Kava with alcohol is a big no no.
I live in the UK and I buy Kava from www.realkava.com. It is potent stuff and definitely has an effect, it will actually numb your mouth and lips as you drink it. You must blend it for a minute and also for better results mix it with a small amount of Lecithin.
Is it equivalent to the anxiolytic effects of Alcohol or Benzodiazepine drugs? Well no it isn't in my experience. I don't take any meds for my panic disorder, I do take Kava occasionally, if I found capsules that were as potent as taking the prepared root powder then I would probably use it more often.
Kava is good for relaxing you a little but in my experience it doesn't combat panic disorder that effectively. A small amount of L-Taurine can sometimes help more, although it's hit and miss.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is much more toxic to your liver than Kava, it's not banned anywhere in the world as far as I know. I believe Kava was banned on the strength of around 18 people in the world dying from liver toxicity. Look at how many people die from liver failure due to Paracetamol poisoning every year. Drug companies are a multi billion industry, they are more powerful than oil companies, if something upsets them they can get it banned easily. They are out for self preservation. Look at Depakote for example >
http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/dep1125.htm
Known in some cases to cause liver and pancreas damage, hmm not banned though is it.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 11, 2007, at 8:16:52
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by nolvas on January 11, 2007, at 2:29:38
Hey Nolvas!
I like your post - I agree with nearly everything you say in it. Particulary the bit about prescription medicines being viewed as 'safe' and if a herb has some slight toxic effect or whatever, it gets immediately banned.
But I was under the impression that the people who got liver toxicity/died form kava kava were taking other things (ie prescription meds) at the same time as using kava kava? So hence why I said kava kava and prescription meds were a no-no. And I also read somewhere that kava kava is fine if you're using the age old tradition methods of using it, ie using the whole plant or whatever it was, as this contained some chemicals that protected the user from the toxic effects. It was only when modern companies decided to 'extract' something that removed the protective chemical that problems arose. I can't quite remember.
It makes me really mad how much Big Pharma has profit at their hearts. I was just reading the other day how they aren't making enough rabies vaccines/medicines because the only countries who now have rabies are the really poor ones, and hence don't hold much profit in the sale of these drugs to those countries so they have drastically reduced the output.
I also read somewhere how big pharma companies spend 100 times more in developing drugs/remedies for common colds, than in developing drugs against tropical diseases - again, simply because the countries which have tropical diseases wouldn't be able to afford the drugs if they got them in the first place! Its very sad.
Posted by dessbee on January 11, 2007, at 8:32:34
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by nolvas on January 11, 2007, at 2:29:38
"The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that very rare cases of liver damage or fulminant liver failure may be caused by kava-containing supplements. However, these injuries might result from pipermethystine, an alkaloid present in portions of the plant used industrially but normally discarded in traditional preparations"
Posted by nolvas on January 11, 2007, at 11:17:48
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by dessbee on January 11, 2007, at 8:32:34
Many of the pharmaceutical companies have directors which are members of the FDA. Don't believe the FDA have your best interests at heart, they simply don't.
Posted by janetlee on January 11, 2007, at 11:24:26
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by nolvas on January 11, 2007, at 11:17:48
I have taken kava along with my prescription meds...I was on xanax, zoloft, and buspar when I took it. Of course, I took the kava at a different time of the day than I did my meds, but in my own case, I never had a problem. If I were in a really bad way with anxiety, I'd take the kava again in a heartbeat and I'm on buspar, paxil, atenolol, and lisinopril now. But as with any supplement or med, it has to be a personal decision.
janet
Posted by Foreigner on January 15, 2007, at 4:38:03
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by janetlee on January 11, 2007, at 11:24:26
I started to use my kava two days ago and it is very relaxing.I am using sjw with it.In fact I had bought it years ago.When I learned about liver toxicity thing I left it on the shelf. It is saying that tradiditional kava is the roots of the herb but the herb industry use the whole plant in wikipedia. I think kava root tea is better than capsules. Because when I opened kava capsule into cofee or tea I find it much effective than capsule in minimal doses. Does anybody know tradiditional kava root seller ? And why is all working herbs are banned? :) I think some complo theories are true...
Posted by nolvas on January 15, 2007, at 5:00:03
In reply to Re: KAVA KAVA + Perscription Medications, posted by Foreigner on January 15, 2007, at 4:38:03
I get mine from www.realkava.com , it's the genuine stuff (numbs your mouth and lips when ingesting). I also live in the UK, which suprised me I could even get it imported here.
I wish it was just conspiracy theories, but as I mentioned earlier in the thread, pharma companies are bigger than oil companies even, if something threatens them they have the power to lobby governments with their 'experts' and get the substance banned.
For example Donald Rumsfeld was named chairman of Gilead Sciences in 1997, who just happen to make Tamiflu. No wonder there's a scare of an epidemic, there's nice profits to be made vaccinating everyone with Tamiflu. (Rumsfeld still hold stakes in Gilead Sciences)
http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/31/news/newsmakers/fortune_rumsfeld/
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=1443
So from now on when you are told that something is dangerous or doesn't work, it pays to do your own research and find out the real answers.
This is the end of the thread.
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