Ashwagandha - Lenvima (Lenvatinib) Interaction
Herbal: Ashwagandha
Also Known As: Withania somnifera, Ajagandha, Amangura, Asan, Asana, Asgand, Asgandh, Asgandha, Ashagandha, Ashvagandha, Ashwaganda, Ashwanga, Asoda, Asundha, Aswagandha, Avarada, Ayurvedic Ginseng, Cerise d'Hiver, Clustered Wintercherry, Ghoda Asoda
Drug: Lenvatinib
Brand names:
Lenvima
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
Jun 23, 2024
Interaction Details
Lenvatinib is classified as belonging to the following category: Hepatotoxic Drugs
Theoretically, taking ashwagandha with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver damage.
Ashwagandha has been linked to cases of acute hepatitis, liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, the need for liver transplantation, and death due to liver failure.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
References
- Björnsson HK, Björnsson ES, Avula B, et al. Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: A case series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Liver Int. 2020;40(4):825-829.
- Ireland PJ, Hardy T, Burt AD, Donnelly MC. Drug-induced hepatocellular injury due to herbal supplement ashwagandha. J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2021;51(4):363-365.
- Suryawanshi G, Abdallah M, Thomson M, Desai N, Chauhan A, Lim N. Ashwagandha-Associated Acute Liver Failure Requiring Liver Transplantation. Am J Ther 2023;30(1):e80-e83.
- Pusec CM, Wolsky R, Llerena C, Sura P. A Case of Supplement-Induced Hepatitis. Cureus 2022;14(10):e30433.
- Lubarska M, Halasinski P, Hryhorowicz S, et al. Liver Dangers of Herbal Products: A Case Report of Ashwagandha-Induced Liver Injury. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023;20(5):3921.
- Tóth M, Benedek AE, Longerich T, Seitz HK. Ashwagandha-induced acute liver injury: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2023;11(3):e7078.
- Bokan G, Glamocanin T, Mavija Z, et al. Herb-Induced Liver Injury by Ayurvedic Ashwagandha as Assessed for Causality by the Updated RUCAM: An Emerging Cause. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023;16(8):1129.
- Philips CA, Valsan A, Theruvath AH, et al. Ashwagandha-induced liver injury-A case series from India and literature review. Hepatol Commun 2023;7(10):e0270.
Ashwagandha Overview
Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is a herb commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is native to India, and is used to treat a variety of conditions, including stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Some studies have also suggested that ashwagandha may have potential health benefits for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, more research is needed. Ashwagandha is often referred to as an adaptogenic herb, which is theorized to help the body to adapt to stress.
Lenvatinib Overview
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Lenvatinib is used to treat a certain type of thyroid cancer that has returned or that has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with radioactive iodine. Lenvatinib is also used along with everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress) to treat renal cell carcinoma (RCC, a type of cancer that begins in the kidney) in people who have previously received treatment with another chemotherapy medication. Lenvatinib is also used along with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as an initial treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Lenvatinib is also used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; a type of liver cancer) that cannot be treated with surgery. Lenvatinib is also used along with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to treat a certain type of cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that has spread to other parts of the body or worsened during or after treatment with chemotherapy medications or that cannot be treated with surgery or radiation therapy. Lenvatinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop the spread of cancer cells.
Ashwagandha - More Interactions
Ashwagandha interacts with 1273 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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