Everything Herbal - Main Page - PS-Survival.com

Specific Vitamins, Herbs, Medications
drugs used for Parkinson;s disease, due to the risk of increased problems with movement. The German Commission
E monograph warns against the use of Kava during pregnancy and nursing. Safety in young children and those with
severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Transitioning from Medications
If you're taking Xanax or other drugs in the benzodiazepine family, switching to Kava will be very difficult. You must
seek a doctor's supervision, because withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening. Additionally, if
you are taking Xanax on an "as needed" basis to stop acute panic attacks, Kava cannot be expected to have the same
rapidity of action. It is easier to make the switch from milder Antianxiety drugs, such as BuSpar, and antidepressants.
Nonetheless, a doctor's supervision is still strongly advised.
Interactions You Should Know About
If you are taking Medications for insomnia or anxiety such as benzodiazepines; do not take Kava in addition to them.
Antipsychotic drugs: Kava might increase the risk of a particular side effect consisting of sudden abnormal
movements, called a dystonic reaction. Levodopa for Parkinson's disease: Kava might reduce its effectiveness.
For the Benzodiazepine Family of Drugs the following Applies:
·Kava - Possible Dangerous Interaction
·Other Sedative Herbs - Possible Increased Action of Drug
·Melatonin - May Be Helpful for Discontinuing Benzodiazepine Sleeping Pills
This family of medications is used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
Benzodiazepine drugs include
alprazolam (Xanax)
chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (Libritabs, Librium, Lipoxide, Mitran, Reposans-10)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
clorazepate dipotassium (Gen-Xene, Tranxene-T, Tranxene-SD)
diazepam (Diastat, Valium, Valrelease)
estazolam (ProSom)
flurazepam hydrochloride (Dalmane, Durapam)
halazepam (Paxipam)
lorazepam (Ativan)
oxazepam (Serax)
quazepam (Doral)
temazepam (Restoril)
triazolam (Halcion)
and others
Kava
Possible Dangerous Interaction One report suggests that the combination of kava and benzodiazepine drugs can lead
to excessive sedation.1
Other Sedative Herbs
Possible Increased Action of Drug It may not be wise to combine benzodiazepines with any herb that produces a
sedative effect, such as ashwagandha, calendula, catnip, hops, lady's slipper, lemon balm, passionflower, sassafras,
skullcap, valerian, or yerba mansa, due to the possibility that the sedative effects may be amplified.2–5
Melatonin
May Be Helpful for Discontinuing Benzodiazepine Sleeping Pills Many people who take conventional sleeping pills
(most of which are in the benzodiazepine family) find it difficult to quit. If you try to stop taking your medication, you
may experience severe insomnia or interrupted sleep. A double-blind placebo-controlled study of 34 individuals who
regularly used such medications found that melatonin at a dose of 2 mg nightly (controlled-release formulation) could
help them discontinue the use of the drugs.6
Warning: It can be dangerous to stop using benzodiazepines if you have taken them for a while. Consult your
physician before trying melatonin to help you stop taking them.
-----------------------------------------------------
References
1. Almeida JC and Grimsley EW. Coma from the health food stores: Interaction between kava and alprazolam. Ann
Intern Med 125(11): 940–941, 1996.
2. Brinker F. Herb contraindications and drug interactions, 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998: 32,
33, 49, 84, 110, 134.
3. Speroni E, et al. Sedative effects of crude extract of Passiflora incarnata after oral administration. Phytother Res 10:
S92–94, 1996.
4. Speroni E, Minghetti A. Neuropharmacological activity of extracts from Passiflora incarnata. Planta Med 54:
http://www.herbnet.com/ask%20the%20herbalist/asktheherbalist_questions%20on%20specifics.htm (13 of 46) [5/17/2004 9:08:17 AM]