Suggested Dosing
5-10 g PO TID
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
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

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).
Adverse Effects
Frequency Not Defined
Photosensitivity
Pancytopenia (from ground alfalfa seeds)
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Avoid prior to surgery: may cause bleeding
Cautions
Above-ground portion safer than seeds
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.Pharmacology
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of Action
Decrease absorption of cholesterol; manganese has hypoglycemic effects
Contains phytoestrogens formometin, coumestrol