News & Perspective
Drugs & Diseases
CME & Education
Academy
Video
Decision Point
Edition: English

Medscape

English
Deutsch
Español
Français
Português
UKNew

Univadis

Sign Up It's Free!
English Edition

Medscape

Univadis

    X
    Univadis from Medscape

    No Results

      News & Perspective Drugs & Diseases CME & Education Academy Video Decision Point
      Drugs & Diseases

      Alfalfa (Herb/Suppl)

      Brand and Other Names:medicago sativa
      • Print

      Suggested Dosing

      5-10 g PO TID

      Next:

      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

      Previous
      Next:

      Interactions

      Interaction Checker

      and Alfalfa

      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 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).

                    Previous
                    Next:

                    Adverse Effects

                    Frequency Not Defined

                    Photosensitivity

                    Pancytopenia (from ground alfalfa seeds)

                    Previous
                    Next:

                    Warnings

                    Contraindications

                    Hypersensitivity

                    Avoid prior to surgery: may cause bleeding

                    Cautions

                    Above-ground portion safer than seeds

                    Previous
                    Next:

                    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.

                    Previous
                    Next:

                    Pharmacology

                    Metabolism: N/A

                    Excretion: N/A

                    Mechanism of Action

                    Decrease absorption of cholesterol; manganese has hypoglycemic effects

                    Contains phytoestrogens formometin, coumestrol

                    Previous
                    Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.
                    Find Us On
                    About
                    About Medscape Privacy Policy Editorial Policy Cookies Terms of Use Advertising Policy Help Center
                    Membership
                    Become a Member About You Professional Information Newsletters & Alerts Market Research
                    App
                    Medscape
                    WebMD Network
                    Medscape Live Events WebMD MedicineNet eMedicineHealth RxList WebMD Corporate Medscape UK
                    Editions
                    English Deutsch Español Français Português UK
                    All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2023 by WebMD LLC. This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.