Cat's Claw (Herb/Suppl)

Brand and Other Names:garbato casha, life giving vine of Peru, more...paraguaya, tambor hausca, una de gato, una de gavilan, uncaria guianensis, uncaria tomentosa

Suggested Dosing

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Freeze-dried aqueous extract: 100 mg PO qDay

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Extract free of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids: 60 mg PO TID

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Suggested Uses

Arthritis, birth control, bone pains, cancer (urinary tract), intestinal disorders, kidney cleansing, peptic ulcers, viral infections, wound healing, allergic rhinitis, diverticulitis, Alzheimer's disease, and leaky bowel syndrome, herpes simplex, human immunodeficiency virus, CFS

Efficacy

Osteoarthritis: Freeze-dried Uncaria guianensis PO decreases pain related to physical activity. Does not decrease pain at rest or swelling

Rheumatoid arthritis: Uncaria tomoentosa extract PO modestly improves symptoms

Insufficient reliable results for other listed uses

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Interactions

Interaction Checker

and Cat's Claw

No Results

     activity indicator 
    No Interactions Found
    Interactions Found

    Contraindicated

      Serious - Use Alternative

        Significant - Monitor Closely

          Minor

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             activity indicator 

            Contraindicated (0)

              Serious - Use Alternative (0)

                Monitor Closely (0)

                  Minor (5)

                  • adalimumab

                    cat's claw, adalimumab. Either increases effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Possible additive immunosuppr'n.

                  • anakinra

                    cat's claw, anakinra. Either increases effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Possible additive immunosuppr'n.

                  • etanercept

                    cat's claw, etanercept. Either increases effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Possible additive immunosuppr'n.

                  • infliximab

                    cat's claw, infliximab. Either increases effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Possible additive immunosuppr'n.

                  • tocilizumab

                    cat's claw, tocilizumab. Either increases effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Possible additive immunosuppr'n.

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                  Adverse Effects

                  Dizziness, headache, hypotension, vomiting

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                  Warnings

                  Contraindications

                  Autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus

                  Cautions

                  Concurrent antihypertensives, concurrent CYP3A4 substrates, concurrent immunosupressant therapy, hypotension

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                  Pregnancy & Lactation

                  Pregnancy Category: avoid use

                  Lactation: avoid use

                  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.

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                  Pharmacology

                  Metabolism: N/A

                  Excretion: N/A

                  Mechanism of Action

                  Decreases inflammation via inhibition of NF-kappa b & TNFalpha

                  Enhances immune function via increase in WBCs

                  Mytraphylline: diuretic effect

                  Quinovic acid glycosides: antiviral activity (in vitro)

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