Ashwagandha Interactions Overview

What Is Ashwagandha Used For?

Ashwagandha is most often used for its purported 'adaptogenic' properties, which are said to help the body adapt better to stress. Ashwagandha has also been used for:

• Insomnia
• Stress/anxiety
• Anti-Aging
• Asthma
• Athletic performance
• Memory improvement
• Inflammatory conditions
• Pain
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol

Please note that the use of ashwagandha for the various conditions mentioned in the previous list has been reported, but it has not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and efficacy. Therefore, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using ashwagandha for any medical purpose. Further research is needed to establish the effectiveness and safety of ashwagandha for the listed conditions.

How Is Ashwagandha Dosed?

Ashwagandha has most often been used in doses of up to 1000 mg daily for up to 12 weeks. Research on the use of Ashwagandha for children is limited and typical dosing is unavailable.

Ashwagandha extract is often standardized to withanolide content, with concentrations ranging from 1.5% to 35%:

• Swiss Herbals offers a standardized Ashwagandha root product standardized to 1.5% withanolides
• Sensoril (Natreon, Inc.) is another standardized product with a minimum of 8% withanolides and 32% oligosaccharides and a maximum of 2% withaferin A.
• KSM-66 (Ixoreal Biomed) is standardized to withanolide ≥ 5% and contains a combination of alkaloids, amino acids, complex sugars, and vitamins
• Shoden (Arjuna Natural Inc) is standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides.

What Drugs Does Ashwagandha Interact With?

Use our comprehensive drug interaction checker for details regarding specific interactions.

It may interact with the following classes of drugs:

• Antidiabetes Drugs: Ashwagandha may lower blood glucose levels, and taking it with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia
• Antihypertensive Drugs: Ashwagandha may lower blood pressure and taking it with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension
• Benzodiazepines: Ashwagandha may increase the sedative effects of benzodiazepines, including Valium, Ativan and Klonopin
• CNS Depressants: Ashwagandha may have sedative effects and may potentiate the effects of other sedatives and anxiolytics
• Immunosuppressants: Ashwagandha may have immunostimulant effects and may decrease the effects of immunosuppressants
• Thyroid Hormone: Ashwagandha may increase the effects and adverse effects of thyroid hormone, boost thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion

How Does Ashwagandha Work?

Ashwagandha supplements are generally made from the root and berry parts of the plant. It contains a variety of active substances, including alkaloids, steroidal lactones, and saponins. Some of the withanolides in ashwagandha are similar in structure to ginsenosides found in ginseng. Withaferin A, a component of ashwagandha, has a similar structure to digoxin, and can be neutralized by a specific drug called Digibind.

In regard to its effects on stress and anxiety, some research suggests that it may help reduce stress-related increases in certain brain receptors and decrease stress-induced increases in certain blood markers. There is also evidence from lab studies that ashwagandha may imitate the action of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Animal studies have shown that ashwagandha may also increase the transmission of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood and anxiety.

References

• An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. PubMed
• Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract on Cognitive Functions in Healthy, Stressed Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. PubMed
• Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, study in Healthy Volunteers. PubMed
• Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Stress and the Stress- Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia. PubMed
• An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. PubMed

Drugs that interact with Ashwagandha