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Dietary supplement

Cat's Claw Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories

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

Cat's Claw is a dietary supplement by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories with 1 active ingredient. 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 Cat's Claw extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Cat's Claw by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories

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

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: Cat's Claw extract. Cat's Claw is a woody vine from the Amazon rainforest, traditionally used in herbal medicine.

The extract contains alkaloid compounds — naturally occurring plant chemicals — that are thought to be responsible for its effects. The capsule also contains three inactive ingredients (fillers and binders): hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, rice flour, and vegetable lubricant.

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 is still being built. Our data shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for the uses we have on file: hay fever (allergic rhinitis), Alzheimer's disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work — it means we don't yet have solid human trial data to say one way or the other.

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 for short-term use in healthy adults, but we don't have good safety data for long-term use. One clinical study reported anemia in 12% of patients who took it, and smaller numbers experienced low white blood cell counts or low platelet counts; however, those patients had advanced cancer, so it's unclear whether the supplement or their disease caused these effects.

Several case reports have linked Cat's Claw to kidney injury in people with certain health conditions. You should avoid Cat's Claw if you're pregnant — traditional herbalists have used it as an abortifacient, and safety data in pregnancy is lacking.

You should 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.

Before taking Cat's Claw, check with your pharmacist if you're on blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, blood pressure medications, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, drugs processed by the liver enzyme CYP3A4 (ask your pharmacist if yours are), or the COVID-19 antiviral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid). All of these have documented moderate-severity interactions with this supplement.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Cat's Claw is one to double-check before you start, especially if you take blood pressure medications, blood thinners, or drugs that interact with CYP3A4. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, this product isn't advised.

Chat with your pharmacist about whether it's right for your situation and your current medications.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 19, 2022.

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 Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories
Barcode (UPC) 351821007250
Net contents 60 Vegetable Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 19, 2022
DSLD ID 261526
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating), Sugar 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 Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories, 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:
1 Vegetable Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Vegetable Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
351821007250
IngredientAmount% DV
Cat's Claw extract500 mg--

Other ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Rice Flour, Vegetable Lubricant

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: One vegetable capsule daily, or more, as directed by a health care professional.

Precautions

Sold only for dispensing by a licensed health professional.

Not to be used by pregnant or lactating women.

Tamper evident band around cap and seal on bottle. Do not use if either seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Formulation

This concentrated herbal extract contains no sugar, yeast, corn wheat, soy, artificial color, flavor or preservatives. Contains no animal products.

Progressive Laboratories manufactured this product in its 3rd party GMP-inspected facility. (Good Manufacturing Practices)

Seals/Symbols

GMP Good Manufacturing Practice Certified GMP Compliant 21 CFR 111

Brand IP Statement(s)

Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories

Formula

Una de Gato (Cat's Claw) 4:1 PE

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Cat's Claw by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Cat's Claw by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Vegetable Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Cat's Claw extract

Interacts with
962 drugs
500 mg 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...

Cat's Claw extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Rice Flour, Vegetable Lubricant. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Cat's Claw by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories 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.

Cat's Claw extract6 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.

Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories

See all Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories products
Name
Progressive Laboratories, Inc.
City
Irving
State
Texas
ZipCode
75038
Phone Number
1-800-527-9512
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Cat's Claw by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories: Common Questions

Does Cat's Claw by Progressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories 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 a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism 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 Cat's Claw if I'm pregnant or nursing?
Not during pregnancy — safety data is lacking and it has a history of traditional use as an abortifacient. Avoid it while breastfeeding too, since we don't have safety information for nursing. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're considering it around pregnancy.
What are the side effects?
In one study of cancer patients taking Cat's Claw, anemia occurred in about 12%, and a small number experienced low white blood cell or platelet counts, headache, fatigue, insomnia, or nerve pain. A few case reports have linked it to kidney injury in people with certain conditions. Since the trial used cancer patients with no other options and had no placebo group, it's hard to know what was caused by the supplement versus the disease itself.
Does Cat's Claw actually work for anything?
We don't have solid evidence yet. Our data shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate Cat's Claw for hay fever, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, or chronic fatigue syndrome. More human research is needed.
How long can I safely take this supplement?
Short-term use in healthy adults is generally well tolerated. Long-term safety hasn't been well studied, so we don't have good data on what happens if you take it for months or years.
Why does this product interact with so many medications?
Cat's Claw contains alkaloid compounds that can affect how your body processes certain drugs and how your blood pressure and clotting system work. The high interaction count comes from the number of individual medications affected by these effects — for instance, many different blood pressure drugs or CYP3A4-processed drugs each count as one. That doesn't mean every person on medication will be affected, but it does mean you should check your specific list.

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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