Should someone be mixing herbal/dietery supplements with medications?
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Absolutly and they can also cause sudden death or counteract a current medication. Make sure they tell their doctor what herbals they are taking so that they are not causing harm to themselves or pissing money down the drain. For example, grapefruit blocks part of the Cytochrome P450 mechanism that causes some drugs to become activated in the body so it will counteract some prodrugs and cause patients to not get the effects. Vitamin C can mask some electrolyte disturbances and people will seem healthy according to tests and actually have serious disease. Always tell your doc about everything you take!
Yes, they can work against the meds. See if you can find out what meds they're on & check online or with a pharmacist.
The jury is still out on a lot of mixtures, however, black cohash and anti-hypertensives should not be taken together.
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