Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 3 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Cat's Claw Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Amazon Therapeutics

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Cat's Claw is a dietary supplement by Amazon Therapeutics with 3 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, immune support.Based on those ingredients, 962 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are 100% Una de Gato. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 3 active ingredients.

This product contains 3 active ingredients: distilled water, 35-40% organic alcohol, and 100% una de gato (cat's claw), a woody vine from Central and South America. Cat's claw is the working ingredient here — the water and alcohol are the liquid base that delivers it.

There are no inactive fillers or binding agents listed.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Cat's Claw product and its label doesn't state a use — see Cat's Claw's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for cat's claw isn't solid yet. Our data shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for allergic rhinitis (hay fever), Alzheimer disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

That means studies haven't been robust enough to say whether it works for these conditions — not that it definitely doesn't work, just that we can't confirm it does.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Cat's Claw

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Cat's claw is generally well tolerated when taken short-term by healthy adults, but how safe it is over the long run isn't well studied. One clinical trial in cancer patients reported anemia in about 12% of participants and leukopenia (low white blood cells) and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) in about 2% each — though those patients were seriously ill and the supplement may not have been the cause.

The same study noted headache (2%), fatigue and insomnia (4% each), and neuropathy or nerve damage (8%). A few case reports link cat's claw to kidney injury in people with lupus or a history of cancer.

Avoid cat's claw during pregnancy because it's been used traditionally as an abortifacient and safety data is lacking. Also avoid it while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Cat's Claw

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Cat's Claw.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 963 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check before using if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (Moderate), blood pressure medications or calcium channel blockers (Moderate), medications broken down by your liver's CYP3A4 system (Moderate), nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or Paxlovid (Moderate), or immunosuppressants (Moderate). These are the main drug types documented to interact with cat's claw.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Cat's claw may be worth considering if you're exploring herbal options for general wellness, but check your medications first — especially blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, heart medications, immunosuppressants, and anything metabolized by your liver. If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, skip it.

Talk to your pharmacist before you start, particularly if you have kidney problems or lupus.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 3 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Apr 23, 2020.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Cat's Claw, straight from the product label.

Brand Amazon Therapeutics
Barcode (UPC) 838451006964
Net contents 1 Fluid Ounce(s); 30 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Apr 23, 2020
DSLD ID 218000
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher, Women (not pregnant or lactating), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
10 Drop(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
15 Drop(s)
UPC/BARCODE
838451006964
IngredientAmount% DV
distilled Water0 NP--
35-40% organic Alcohol0 NP--
100% Una de Gato0 NP--

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Your Selection You hold in your hands the finest traditional botanical available. This botanical is a long-standing favorite of South America where it has been empirically selected for its effectiveness over many generations.

Direct from the source

Traditional Ethnobotanical Information Amazon Therapeutics works for the preservation of rainforests and to uphold the intellectual property rights of native healers and their traditional medicines.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Directions Use 10-15 drops once or twice a day in water or as recommended by a health care practitioner.

Precautions

Cautions: Information provided on this label should not be used as medical advice. Not intended for long-term use.

Not intended for pregnant or nursing women.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Formula

Uncaria tomentosa Una de Gato

EarthKosher

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formulation

Wild crafted sustainable harvest

Gluten free

Seals/Symbols

EarthKosher

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

See for yourself

Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics

These are the 3 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size10 Drop(s) Dosage formLiquid Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Distilled Water

0 NP per serving

35-40% organic Alcohol

0 NP per serving

100% Una de Gato

Interacts with
962 drugs
0 NP per serving

Cat's claw is a South American vine traditionally used for inflammation, joint pain, and immune support. Some small studies hint it may help with arth...

100% Una de Gato monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Cat's Claw?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
962Drugs
962 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Cat's Claw with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

100% Una de Gato6 drug types · 962 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, cat's claw may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Cat's claw contains rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline. Animal research suggests that these alkaloids can inhibit platelet aggregation. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, taking cat's claw with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cat's claw contains rhynchophylline. In vitro and animal research suggests that rhynchophylline can lower blood pressure. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Calcium Channel Blockers

Theoretically, taking cat's claw with calcium channel blockers might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cat's claw contains various alkaloids, including rhynchophylline, isorhynchophylline, corynoxeine, and isocorynoxiene. Animal research suggests that these alkaloids can lower blood pressure by acting as calcium channel blockers. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, cat's claw might increase or decrease the levels and effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Cat's claw may affect the clearance of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. In vitro research shows that cat's claw can inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes. In one case report, a patient taking cat's claw (at an unspecified dose) experienced increased serum levels of atazanavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir, all of which are CYP3A4 substrates. Levels returned to normal 15 days after discontinuation of the cat's claw supplement, suggesting inhibition of CYP3A4 by cat's claw. In contrast, animal research suggests that rhynchophylline, an alkaloid contained in cat's claw, induces CYP3A expression and accelerates the metabolism of nirmatrelvir, the active component in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combination product.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, cat's claw might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
In human and laboratory research, cat's claw has been shown to have immunostimulating activity. It stimulates phagocytosis and increases respiratory cellular activity and the mobility of leukocytes. Theoretically, this could interfere with the activity of immunosuppressant medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid)

Theoretically, cat's claw may decrease the levels of nirmatrelvir.
Cat's claw contains rhynchophylline. Animal research suggests that this alkaloid induces CYP3A expression, thereby accelerating the metabolism of nirmatrelvir, the active component in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combination product. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Cat's Claw, from the product label.

Amazon Therapeutics

See all Amazon Therapeutics products
Name
Herbs America
Street Address
PO Box 446
City
Murphy
State
OR
ZipCode
97533
Phone Number
541-846-6222
Web Address
www.amazonmedicine.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics: Common Questions

Does Cat's Claw by Amazon Therapeutics interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Cat's Claw has a known interaction with 962 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Cat's Claw contains 3 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — avoid cat's claw during pregnancy because it's been used traditionally to cause miscarriage and safety data is missing. Also avoid while breastfeeding, since there's not enough information to know if it's safe for your baby. Talk with your doctor about what's right for you.
What are the side effects I should watch for?
In a clinical trial, some patients experienced anemia, low white blood cell or platelet counts, headache, fatigue, insomnia, and nerve damage — though those patients had serious cancers and it's unclear if cat's claw caused the problems. A few people have reported kidney injury. Stop and call your pharmacist or doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue, or changes in urination.
Does cat's claw actually work for what it claims?
The evidence isn't there yet. Our data shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for hay fever, Alzheimer disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, or chronic fatigue syndrome. That means we can't confirm it works for these conditions based on current research.
Is this safe to take long-term?
Short-term use in healthy adults is generally well tolerated, but long-term safety hasn't been studied well. If you're thinking of taking it regularly, that's a conversation worth having with your pharmacist.
Why does the label say it's 100% una de gato?
Una de gato is the Spanish name for cat's claw, the vine this supplement is made from. They're the same thing.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Cat's Claw is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Cat's Claw label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Cat's Claw's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 16 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Cat's Claw 16 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  3. Sandoval M, Charbonnet RM, Okuhama NN, et al. Cat's claw inhibits TNFalpha production and scavenges free radicals: role in cytoprotection. Free Radic Biol Med 2000;29:71-78.
  4. Müller AC, Kanfer I. Potential pharmacokinetic interactions between antiretrovirals and medicinal plants used as complementary and African traditional medicines. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2011;32(8):458-70. PubMed
  5. Sheng, Y., Bryngelsson, C., and Pero, R. W. Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-MED-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;69(2):115-126. PubMed
  6. Lamm, S., Sheng, Y., and Pero, R. W. Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100. Phytomedicine 2001;8(4):267-274.
  7. Sheng, Y., Li, L., Holmgren, K., and Pero, R. W. DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study. Phytomedicine 2001;8(4):275-282.
  8. Chen, C. X., Jin, R. M., Li, Y. K., Zhong, J., Yue, L., Chen, S. C., and Zhou, J. Y. Inhibitory effect of rhynchophylline on platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue.Bao. 1992;13(2):126-130.
  9. Flythe, J. E., Rueda, J. F., Riscoe, M. K., and Watnick, S. Silicate nephrolithiasis after ingestion of supplements containing silica dioxide. Am.J.Kidney Dis. 2009;54(1):127-130. PubMed
  10. Zhou, J. and Zhou, S. Antihypertensive and neuroprotective activities of rhynchophylline: the role of rhynchophylline in neurotransmission and ion channel activity. J.Ethnopharmacol. 10-28-2010;132(1):15-27. PubMed
  11. Zhou, J. Y. and Zhou, S. W. Isorhynchophylline: A plant alkaloid with therapeutic potential for cardiovascular and central nervous system diseases. Fitoterapia 2012;83(4):617-626. PubMed
  12. Hemingway, S. R. and Phillipson, J. D. Proceedings: Alkaloids from S. American species of Uncaria (Rubiaceae). J.Pharm.Pharmacol. 1974;26 Suppl:113P.
  13. Hilepo, J. N., Bellucci, A. G., and Mossey, R. T. Acute renal failure caused by 'cat's claw' herbal remedy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nephron 1997;77(3):361. PubMed
  14. De Paula LCL, Fonseca F, Perazzo F, et al. Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) improves quality of life in patients with advanced solid tumors. J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(1):22-30.
  15. Portalatin G, Shettigar S, Carrion-Rodriguez A, et al. Ketogenic-Diet Shake Containing Uncaria tomentosa-Associated Acute Interstitial Nephritis. Case Rep Nephrol Dial 2022;12(3):219-225.
  16. Lei S, Guo A, Lu J, et al. Activation of PXR causes drug interactions with Paxlovid in transgenic mice. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023;13(11):4502-4510. PubMed

See these in context on the Cat's Claw monograph →

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

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