Can You Take Hawthorn Supplements With Azithromycin (Z-PACK)?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses if azithromycin can safely be taken with hawthorn supplements.
Is it okay to take Hawthorn berry with a z-pack antibiotic?
Mar 03, 2024- There is no known interaction between hawthorn supplements and azithromycin based on their mechanisms of action. Hawthorn's potential interactions are with blood pressure and blood clotting medications, which are not concerns with azithromycin. You should still consult with your pharmacist or doctor before combining any supplement with an antibiotic to ensure it is appropriate for your specific situation.
Answer
Thank you for contacting us!
While we have several potential drug interactions listed for Hawthorn, our drug-herbal interaction checker shows no interaction with azithromycin.
Additional Details
Hawthorn is known to have potential interactions with drugs affecting blood pressure and blood coagulation, such as anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin, nitrates, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. These interactions are due to potential additive effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and coronary vasodilation, none of which are a concern with azithromycin.
Most interactions involving azithromycin relate to impaired absorption when taken with other drugs or additive side effects. For example, azithromycin has many listed drug interactions due to the potential to affect heart rhythm (prolong the 'QT interval'). Hawthorn is not known to affect the absorption of azithromycin or cause additive side effects.
Overall, although there are no specific studies on the interaction between azithromycin and hawthorn that I could find, based on their known mechanisms of action and potential side effects, a clinically significant interaction between the two is not expected.
Final Words
Thank you for contacting us, and please do so again anytime!
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Anticoagulant
- A medication that prevents blood clots from forming or growing larger.
- Antiplatelet
- A medication that prevents blood platelets from sticking together to form clots.
- Beta-blockers
- A class of medications that slow heart rate and reduce blood pressure.
- Calcium channel blockers
- A class of medications that relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure by blocking calcium movement in heart and vessel cells.
- Coronary vasodilation
- The widening of blood vessels that supply the heart muscle.
- Impaired absorption
- The reduced ability of the body to take in and process a medication through the digestive system.
- QT interval
- A measurement on a heart rhythm test that represents the time it takes for the heart to prepare for and complete a heartbeat.
- Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors
- A class of medications that relax blood vessels, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and high blood pressure in the lungs.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
More answers from Brian →