Indication-specific dosing for Astragalus membranaceus (astragalus), frequency-based adverse effects, comprehensive interactions, contraindications, pregnancy & lactation schedules, and cost information.

Sections

Sections Astragalus
Suggested Dosing
Suggested Uses
Interactions
Warnings
Pregnancy
Pharmacology

Suggested Dosing

Powder

1-30 g/d PO

Doses > 28 g/day not recommended, no additional benefit and might cause immune suppression

Decoction

0.5-1 L per day (maximum of 120 grams of whole root per liter of water)

Suggested Uses

URI, common cold, other infections, hepatitis

Breast, cervical, lung cancer (in combo with glossy privet [Ligustrum lucidum])

Efficacy

Insufficient reliable evidence to rate use in breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatitis and the common cold

Interaction Checker

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Interactions Found

Contraindicated

Serious - Use Alternative

Significant - Monitor Closely

Minor

All Interactions Sort By:

Contraindicated (0)

Serious - Use Alternative (0)

Monitor Closely (27)

adalimumab
adalimumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
alefacept
alefacept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
anakinra
anakinra increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
antithymocyte globulin equine
antithymocyte globulin equine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
antithymocyte globulin rabbit
antithymocyte globulin rabbit increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
azathioprine
azathioprine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
basiliximab
basiliximab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
canakinumab
canakinumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
cyclosporine
cyclosporine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
etanercept
etanercept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
everolimus
everolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
glatiramer
glatiramer increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
golimumab
golimumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
hydroxychloroquine sulfate
hydroxychloroquine sulfate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
infliximab
infliximab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
leflunomide
leflunomide increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
mercaptopurine
mercaptopurine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
methotrexate
methotrexate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
muromonab CD3
muromonab CD3 increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
mycophenolate
mycophenolate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
rilonacept
rilonacept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
sirolimus
sirolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
tacrolimus
tacrolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
temsirolimus
temsirolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
tocilizumab
tocilizumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .
tongkat ali
tongkat ali increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
ustekinumab
ustekinumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

Minor (3)

acyclovir
astragalus increases effects of acyclovir by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
echinacea
astragalus and echinacea both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Minor/Significance Unknown.
maitake
astragalus and maitake both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Minor/Significance Unknown.

acyclovir
Minor (1)astragalus increases effects of acyclovir by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
adalimumab
Monitor Closely (1)adalimumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
alefacept
Monitor Closely (1)alefacept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
anakinra
Monitor Closely (1)anakinra increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
antithymocyte globulin equine
Monitor Closely (1)antithymocyte globulin equine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
antithymocyte globulin rabbit
Monitor Closely (1)antithymocyte globulin rabbit increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
azathioprine
Monitor Closely (1)azathioprine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
basiliximab
Monitor Closely (1)basiliximab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
canakinumab
Monitor Closely (1)canakinumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
cyclosporine
Monitor Closely (1)cyclosporine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
echinacea
Minor (1)astragalus and echinacea both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Minor/Significance Unknown.
etanercept
Monitor Closely (1)etanercept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
everolimus
Monitor Closely (1)everolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
glatiramer
Monitor Closely (1)glatiramer increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
golimumab
Monitor Closely (1)golimumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
hydroxychloroquine sulfate
Monitor Closely (1)hydroxychloroquine sulfate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
infliximab
Monitor Closely (1)infliximab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
leflunomide
Monitor Closely (1)leflunomide increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
maitake
Minor (1)astragalus and maitake both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Minor/Significance Unknown.
mercaptopurine
Monitor Closely (1)mercaptopurine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
methotrexate
Monitor Closely (1)methotrexate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
muromonab CD3
Monitor Closely (1)muromonab CD3 increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
mycophenolate
Monitor Closely (1)mycophenolate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
rilonacept
Monitor Closely (1)rilonacept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
sirolimus
Monitor Closely (1)sirolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
tacrolimus
Monitor Closely (1)tacrolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
temsirolimus
Monitor Closely (1)temsirolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
tocilizumab
Monitor Closely (1)tocilizumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .
tongkat ali
Monitor Closely (1)tongkat ali increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
ustekinumab
Monitor Closely (1)ustekinumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity

Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy Category: N/A

Lactation: N/A

Pregnancy Categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

Mechanism of Action

Saponins (e.g. astragaloside), Flavonoids, Polysaccharides

Antioxidants, stimulates interferon, IgA, IgG

Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.

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