How some supplements interfere with medications

It’s not only certain foods that spell trouble for some medications. So do certain supplements. And one of the worst offenders is St. John's wort.

Why St. John's wort can cause trouble

A phytochemical in the herb ramps up the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. And that spurs the breakdown of many drugs.

“St. John’s wort is pretty potent,” says Gary Asher, director of integrative medicine services at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“And it’s a double whammy,” he adds. That’s because the herb also steps up the activity of a drug transporter called P-glycoprotein, or P-gp.

“Think of P-gp as a sump pump,” says Asher. “It actually clears stuff out of the cell.” With both CYP3A4 and P-gp working overtime, “you get lower drug levels.”

One of the best-known interactions is oral contraceptives

Taking birth control pills with St. John’s wort makes them less effective. And that raises the risk of an unintended pregnancy.

St. John’s wort also dampens the effect of some drugs for cancer, depression, organ transplant, HIV, and heart failure, among others.

“So the safest advice is to avoid taking St. John’s wort if you also take other medications,” says Asher. St. John’s wort may be okay with some drugs, he acknowledges, but it requires expertise to find out.

What else you should know

Other supplements, including goldenseal, kava kava, and concentrated garlic or green tea, may also affect some meds.

So tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take a supplement in addition to prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Otherwise, says Asher, “a provider can’t even begin to evaluate your risk.”

Want more info?

This article and these links don’t replace medical advice. Always check with your provider or pharmacist.

• Interactions: Type in the meds or supplements you take at drugs.com and see if any have potential interactions.
• Medications & supplements: Learn how to take them, side effects, potential interactions, etc., at medlineplus.gov.