Herbalism Herb-Drug Interactions 3

Question 1

Saw palmetto is generally considered safe when combined with standard BPH medications, but caution is advised with:

Accepted Answer

Anticoagulants due to mild antiplatelet effects

Answer

Calcium channel blockers

Answer

Statins due to lipid-lowering overlap

Answer

ACE inhibitors

Question 2

Which phase of drug metabolism is most commonly affected by herb-drug interactions?

Accepted Answer

Phase I (oxidation via CYP enzymes)

Answer

Phase III (drug transport out of cells)

Answer

Drug excretion in urine

Answer

Protein binding in plasma

Question 3

A patient taking thyroid hormone replacement asks about bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus). The primary concern is:

Accepted Answer

Bladderwrack containing iodine that may alter thyroid hormone levels

Answer

Bladderwrack reducing iron absorption

Answer

Bladderwrack blocking thyroid receptor sites

Answer

Bladderwrack causing hypercalcemia

Question 4

Which mechanism explains why milk thistle is generally considered to have LOW herb-drug interaction potential?

Accepted Answer

Silymarin has poor bioavailability and weak CYP induction/inhibition in vivo

Answer

Milk thistle is water-soluble and excreted before reaching the liver

Answer

Milk thistle is processed exclusively by kidney enzymes

Answer

Silymarin neutralizes all pharmaceutical drugs before absorption

Question 5

Feverfew has interaction concerns with which drug class due to its effects on platelet aggregation?

Accepted Answer

NSAIDs and anticoagulants

Answer

Antidepressants

Answer

Antibiotics

Answer

Diuretics

Question 6

The term 'pharmacodynamic interaction' between an herb and a drug refers to:

Accepted Answer

Additive or antagonistic effects at the same receptor or physiological system

Answer

One substance changing the blood levels of another

Answer

Competition for protein-binding sites in plasma

Answer

Changes in how quickly a drug is absorbed from the gut