Mistletoe (Herb/Suppl)

Brand and Other Names:iscador, viscum album

Suggested Dosing

Hypertension

Crude fruit or herb to make tea

10 g/day

Cancer

No standard dose

Iscador: fermented mistletoe extracts

10 mg extract contains 750 ng lectin

IV/SC

  • 0.1 to 30 mg several times per week have been used

Solid Tumor

  • Intratumoral/SC/IV: preparations containing lectin 20,000 ng/mL or viscotoxins 100 mcg/mL have been used
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Suggested Uses

Cancer: adjunct to chemotherapy, hypertension

Efficacy

Reviewing 21 clinical studies, Horneber et al (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008) concluded:

  • Evidence from RCTs to support anticancer effects of mistletoe is weak
  • Some evidence that mistletoe extracts may offer benefits on QOL measures during chemotherapy for breast cancer chemotherapy, but these results need replication
  • More high quality, independent clinical research is needed to truly assess the safety & effectiveness of mistletoe extracts
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Interactions

Interaction Checker

and Mistletoe

No Results

     activity indicator 
    No Interactions Found
    Interactions Found

    Contraindicated

      Serious - Use Alternative

        Significant - Monitor Closely

          Minor

            All Interactions Sort By:
             activity indicator 

            Contraindicated (0)

              Serious - Use Alternative (0)

                Monitor Closely (68)

                • aceclofenac

                  aceclofenac increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • acemetacin

                  acemetacin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • agrimony

                  agrimony increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • alfalfa

                  alfalfa increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • American ginseng

                  American ginseng increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • antithrombin alfa

                  antithrombin alfa increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • antithrombin III

                  antithrombin III increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • argatroban

                  argatroban increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • aspirin

                  aspirin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • aspirin rectal

                  aspirin rectal increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .

                • aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate

                  aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • bemiparin

                  bemiparin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • bivalirudin

                  bivalirudin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • celecoxib

                  celecoxib increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • choline magnesium trisalicylate

                  choline magnesium trisalicylate increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .

                • cinnamon

                  cinnamon increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • cordyceps

                  cordyceps increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • dabigatran

                  dabigatran increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • dalteparin

                  dalteparin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • diclofenac

                  diclofenac increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • diflunisal

                  diflunisal increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • dong quai

                  dong quai increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • enoxaparin

                  enoxaparin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • epoprostenol

                  epoprostenol increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • etodolac

                  etodolac increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • fennel

                  fennel increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • fenoprofen

                  fenoprofen increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • feverfew

                  feverfew increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • flurbiprofen

                  flurbiprofen increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • fondaparinux

                  fondaparinux increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • forskolin

                  forskolin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • garlic

                  garlic increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ginger

                  ginger increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ginkgo biloba

                  ginkgo biloba increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • heparin

                  heparin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • horse chestnut seed

                  horse chestnut seed increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ibuprofen

                  ibuprofen increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ibuprofen IV

                  ibuprofen IV increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • indomethacin

                  indomethacin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ketoprofen

                  ketoprofen increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ketorolac

                  ketorolac increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ketorolac intranasal

                  ketorolac intranasal increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .

                • lornoxicam

                  lornoxicam increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • meclofenamate

                  meclofenamate increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • mefenamic acid

                  mefenamic acid increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • meloxicam

                  meloxicam increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • nabumetone

                  nabumetone increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • naproxen

                  naproxen increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • nettle

                  mistletoe and nettle both decrease anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • oxaprozin

                  oxaprozin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • panax ginseng

                  panax ginseng increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • parecoxib

                  parecoxib increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • pau d'arco

                  pau d'arco increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • phenindione

                  phenindione increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • phytoestrogens

                  phytoestrogens increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • piroxicam

                  piroxicam increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • protamine

                  protamine increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • reishi

                  reishi increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • reteplase

                  reteplase increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • salicylates (non-asa)

                  salicylates (non-asa) increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • salsalate

                  salsalate increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • Siberian ginseng

                  Siberian ginseng increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • sulfasalazine

                  sulfasalazine increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • sulindac

                  sulindac increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • tenecteplase

                  tenecteplase increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • tolfenamic acid

                  tolfenamic acid increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • tolmetin

                  tolmetin increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • vitamin K1 (phytonadione)

                  mistletoe and vitamin K1 (phytonadione) both decrease anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                Minor (3)

                • anamu

                  anamu increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Minor/Significance Unknown.

                • danshen

                  danshen increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Minor/Significance Unknown.

                • devil's claw

                  devil's claw increases and mistletoe decreases anticoagulation. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Minor/Significance Unknown.

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                Adverse Effects

                Oral: N/V, hepatitis, hypotension, seizure, coma, death

                Parenteral: chills, HA, angina, orthostatic hypotension, allergic reaction

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                Warnings

                Contraindications

                Hypersensitivity, oral ingestion

                Cautions

                This is European mistletoe; do not confuse with American mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.)

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                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.

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                Pharmacology

                Metabolism: N/A

                Excretion: N/A

                Mechanism of Action

                Lectins, alkaloids, viscotoxins: biological response modifiers, cytotoxic agents

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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.