Review
PHILADELPHIA, April 9 - When it comes to adverse events associated with Coumadin (warfarin) therapy, beware of herbs and many supplements beginning with the letter G, according to a University of Washington investigator.
Douglas S. Paauw, M.D., spelled them out for a standing-room-only crowd at the American College of Physicians meeting here. They are garlic, ginger, and gingko biloba, and ginseng.
"Garlic, ginger, and gingko biloba all increase the anticoagulation of warfarin [Coumadin], while ginseng can decrease it," he said.
Adverse events associated with Coumadin therapy continue to be a leading cause of hospitalizations for drug-related adverse events, and many times the problem can be traced to those herbs and supplements, he said. Dr. Paauw ran through those and other hazards during a session titled, "Ten Common Prescribing Errors: Drug Interactions and Side Effects."
Posted by gruwell at April 10, 2006 5:10 AM | TrackBack