Alfalfa (Herb/Suppl)

Brand and Other Names:medicago sativa

Suggested Dosing

5-10 g PO TID

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Suggested Uses

Asthma, arthritis, diabetes, diuresis, hypercholesterolemia, indigestion, thrombocytopenic purpura

Source of

Vitamins: A, C, E, K

Minerals: Ca, K, P, Fe

Efficacy

Possibly effective for type II hyperlipoproteinemia

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Interactions

Interaction Checker

and Alfalfa

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 (68)

                • aceclofenac

                  aceclofenac and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • acemetacin

                  acemetacin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • agrimony

                  agrimony and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • alteplase

                  alteplase and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • American ginseng

                  alfalfa and American ginseng both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • antithrombin alfa

                  antithrombin alfa and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • antithrombin III

                  antithrombin III and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • argatroban

                  argatroban and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • aspirin

                  aspirin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • aspirin rectal

                  aspirin rectal and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate

                  aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • bemiparin

                  bemiparin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • bivalirudin

                  bivalirudin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • celecoxib

                  celecoxib and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • choline magnesium trisalicylate

                  choline magnesium trisalicylate and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • cinnamon

                  alfalfa and cinnamon both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • cordyceps

                  alfalfa and cordyceps both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • dabigatran

                  dabigatran and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • dalteparin

                  dalteparin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • diclofenac

                  diclofenac and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • diflunisal

                  diflunisal and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • dong quai

                  alfalfa and dong quai both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • enoxaparin

                  enoxaparin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • epoprostenol

                  alfalfa and epoprostenol both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • etodolac

                  etodolac and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • fennel

                  alfalfa and fennel both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • fenoprofen

                  fenoprofen and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • feverfew

                  alfalfa and feverfew both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • flurbiprofen

                  flurbiprofen and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • fondaparinux

                  fondaparinux and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • forskolin

                  alfalfa and forskolin both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • garlic

                  alfalfa and garlic both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ginger

                  alfalfa and ginger both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ginkgo biloba

                  alfalfa and ginkgo biloba both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • heparin

                  heparin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • horse chestnut seed

                  alfalfa and horse chestnut seed both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ibuprofen

                  ibuprofen and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ibuprofen IV

                  ibuprofen IV and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • indomethacin

                  indomethacin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ketoprofen

                  ketoprofen and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ketorolac

                  ketorolac and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • ketorolac intranasal

                  ketorolac intranasal and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • lornoxicam

                  lornoxicam and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • meclofenamate

                  meclofenamate and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • mefenamic acid

                  mefenamic acid and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • meloxicam

                  meloxicam and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • mistletoe

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

                • nabumetone

                  nabumetone and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • naproxen

                  naproxen and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • nettle

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

                • oxaprozin

                  oxaprozin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • panax ginseng

                  alfalfa and panax ginseng both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • parecoxib

                  parecoxib and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • pau d'arco

                  alfalfa and pau d'arco both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • phenindione

                  phenindione and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • phytoestrogens

                  alfalfa and phytoestrogens both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • piroxicam

                  piroxicam and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • protamine

                  protamine and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • reishi

                  alfalfa and reishi both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • reteplase

                  reteplase and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • salicylates (non-asa)

                  salicylates (non-asa) and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • salsalate

                  salsalate and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • Siberian ginseng

                  alfalfa and Siberian ginseng both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • sulfasalazine

                  sulfasalazine and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • sulindac

                  sulindac and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • tenecteplase

                  tenecteplase and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely.

                • tolfenamic acid

                  tolfenamic acid and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                • tolmetin

                  tolmetin and alfalfa both increase anticoagulation. Use Caution/Monitor.

                Minor (6)

                • anamu

                  alfalfa and anamu both increase anticoagulation. Minor/Significance Unknown.

                • chlorpromazine

                  alfalfa increases toxicity of chlorpromazine by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Increased photosensitivity.

                • danshen

                  alfalfa and danshen both increase anticoagulation. Minor/Significance Unknown.

                • devil's claw

                  alfalfa and devil's claw both increase anticoagulation. Minor/Significance Unknown.

                • mestranol

                  alfalfa decreases effects of mestranol by pharmacodynamic antagonism. Minor/Significance Unknown. (Theoretical interaction).

                • vitamin E

                  alfalfa decreases levels of vitamin E by inhibition of GI absorption. Applies only to oral form of both agents. Minor/Significance Unknown. (Vitamin E).

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                Adverse Effects

                Frequency Not Defined

                Photosensitivity

                Pancytopenia (from ground alfalfa seeds)

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                Warnings

                Contraindications

                Hypersensitivity

                Avoid prior to surgery: may cause bleeding

                Cautions

                Above-ground portion safer than seeds

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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

                Decrease absorption of cholesterol; manganese has hypoglycemic effects

                Contains phytoestrogens formometin, coumestrol

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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.