What is ginseng?
The use of ginseng in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. A number of ginseng species used in herbal products grow around the world. Some of these plants include American ginseng, Korean ginseng, Sanchi ginseng, Chikusetsu ginseng, Himalayan ginseng, zhuzishen, and dwarf ginseng. Ginseng is also known as Siberian ginseng, devil's shrub, eleuthero, touch-me-not, and wild pepper.
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What are the possible side effects of ginseng?
Although uncommon, allergic reactions to ginseng have been reported. Stop taking
ginseng and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic
reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or
face; or hives.
No other side effects have been reported with the use of ginseng. Notify your doctor if
you develop any side effect while taking ginseng.
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How should I take ginseng?
The use of ginseng in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. If you choose to take ginseng, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
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What is the most important information I should know about ginseng?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you are taking any medicines to prevent or treat these conditions. Ginseng has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of ginseng may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
No information is available regarding a missed dose of ginseng. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider if you require further information.
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What other drugs will affect ginseng?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: any heart or blood pressure medicines; a medicine to control blood sugar levels such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase, Diabeta, Micronase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), troglitazone (Rezulin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), and others; warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis), indomethacin (Indocin), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), and others;
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether ginseng will harm an unborn baby.
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether ginseng will harm a nursing infant.
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. A massive ginseng overdose has been reported to cause the "Ginseng Abuse Syndrome" which is characterized by sleeplessness, muscle tension, and swelling or fluid retention.
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Who should not take ginseng?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you are taking any medicines to prevent or treat these conditions. Talk to your doctor before taking ginseng if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Ginseng may not be recommended in some situations. Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether ginseng will harm an unborn baby.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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