Is Cat's Claw Safe To Take With Antibiotics?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Cat's Claw interacts with antibiotics.
Hi. Is it safe to use Cat's Claw together with antibiotics at the same time? In other words, will it diminish the effect of antibiotics?
Oct 19, 2022- No documented interactions have been reported between Cat's Claw and antibiotics based on available studies.
- Cat's Claw may have mild effects on how your body breaks down certain drugs, but this has not caused clinically significant problems with antibiotics.
- You should talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Cat's Claw with any prescription medication to be safe.
Answer
Although more studies are needed to better understand Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis; Uncaria tomentosa) and how it may affect other drugs, there are no documented interactions between Cat's Claw and antibiotics.
Some studies do indicate that Cat's Claw may mildly affect a specific metabolizing enzyme (CYP3A4), but again, no clinically significant drug interactions have been reported between it and antibiotics.
What Is Cat's Claw?
Cat's claw is a vine native to tropical areas of South and Central America and is a commonly used dietary supplement. Two different species of cat's claw are primarily used in commercial preparations:
- Uncaria tomentosa
- Uncaria guianensis
Cat's Claw is named as such since the thorns of the vine are shaped like the claw of a cat.
Although there is no strong evidence for the benefit of using Cat's Claw for the treatment of any condition, it has been historically used for:
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Wound Healing
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Gastritis
Cat's Claw With Antibiotics
As mentioned, there is no indication that Cat's Claw interferes with antibiotics. In fact, studies have not reported interactions between Cat's claw and all of the following commonly used antibiotics:
- Penicillin
- Doxycycline
- Amoxicillin
- Azithromycin
- Levofloxacin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Erythromycin
- Clarithromycin
- Tetracycline
What About Other Drugs?
In terms of interactions clinical studies have reported, you should be cautious taking Cat's Claw if you are on the following medications:
- Immunosuppressants
- Anticoagulants
- Drugs metabolized by the enzyme CYP3A4
Cat's Claw has been reported to have immunostimulant effects that might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy. Due to this, Cat's Claw could interfere with the activity of immunosuppressant medications.
Additionally, Cat's claw may have mild anticoagulant effects and mild inhibitory effects on the CYP3A4 metabolizing enzyme, so could affect other drugs that are metabolized by it.
The list of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 is quite extensive, but studies show Cat's claw inhibits the enzyme to a relatively low degree (although more studies are needed on this matter).
As always, it is a good idea to ask your pharmacist or doctor about taking a supplement with your prescription medication before doing so.
Final Words
I hope this answer helped! Reach back out anytime.
References & sources
- Cat's claw inhibits TNFalpha production and scavenges free radicals: role in cytoprotection — PubMed
- Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-MED-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa — PubMed
- Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100 — PubMed
- DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study — PubMed
- LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. — PubMed
- An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Dietary supplement
- A product containing vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other substances intended to supplement the diet and support health.
- Drug interactions
- Changes in how a medication works when combined with another drug or substance.
- Metabolizing enzyme
- A protein in your body that breaks down drugs so they can be eliminated from your system.
- CYP3A4
- A specific enzyme in your liver and intestines that breaks down many common medications.
- Immunosuppressants
- Medications that reduce the activity of the immune system, often used after organ transplants or for autoimmune diseases.
- Anticoagulants
- Medications that thin the blood and prevent blood clots from forming.
- Immunostimulant effects
- The ability to boost or activate the immune system's ability to fight disease.
- Clinically significant
- Important enough to cause noticeable effects on a person's health or how a treatment works.
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...
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