Puravive Drug Interaction Question
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist addresses an individual's concerns about combining the supplement Puravive with their medications.
I take topiramate 100mg twice a day for epilepsy, which has been controlled for almost 20 years. I also take Metadate CD 30 mg per day for a sleep disorder, escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro) 5 mg per day for depression/anxiety, and Zyrtec 10 mg per day for allergies. I was wondering if the Puravive weight loss supplement is okay to take with these medications or if it has any interactions that could be problematic. The ingredients in Puravive include luteolin (Perilla frutescens), kudzu (Pueraria lobata), holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), white Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng), amur cork bark (Phellodendron amurense), propolis (propolis), quercetin (quercetum), and oleuropein (Olea europaea). Thank you for your help!
Feb 04, 2024- Puravive contains multiple herbal ingredients and was checked against your medications with only one minor theoretical interaction found between its ginseng content and methylphenidate that is unlikely to cause clinically significant effects.
- Research on interactions between natural supplements and drugs is generally limited, so while significant interactions are unlikely based on known mechanisms, you should talk with your doctor before starting Puravive or any supplement to ensure proper monitoring.
Answer
Thanks for reaching out!
While we did not have the dietary supplement 'Puravive' listed in our drug-herbal interaction checker, we have added it after receiving your question so you can check for interactions. You can check it out here.
Puravive contains several different herbal ingredients, so it is important to take them all into consideration when looking into potential drug interactions. The supplement contains the following:
- Luteolin
- Kudzu Root Extract
- Holy Basil
- White Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
- Propolis
- Quercetin
- Oleuropein
It also contains several inactive ingredients.
Due to the numerous herbals in Puravive, we have a large number of theoretical interactions listed (our interaction checker documents over 1,000 possible interactions!).
However, when we checked the drugs you mentioned in your question (Zyrtec, topiramate, Lexapro, Metadate CD), only one theoretical interaction was reported. You can see the interaction report here.
The reported interaction, between the Panax ginseng in Puravive and methylphenidate, is a minor one and unlikely to have clinically significant effects.
The interaction is as follows:
- Methylphenidate is a stimulant drug, and ginseng has been reported in some studies to have a stimulant effect. Theoretically, ginseng could potentiate the effects of methylphenidate. However, this has not been specifically reported in humans, and it is unlikely the interaction would result in clinically significant effects.
All the other ingredients in Puravive (Luteolin, Kudzu Root Extract, Holy Basil, White Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Propolis, Quercetin, Oleuropein) returned no results when checked against Zyrtec, topiramate, Lexapro, Metadate CD.
Other Comments
It is important to emphasize that interaction studies between natural medications and drugs are generally lacking. Therefore, it is difficult to determine if the interaction listed above is the only one that could potentially occur.
Nevertheless, based on the known mechanisms of the natural medications and drugs in question, significant interactions are unlikely to occur.
As always, be sure to speak with your doctor before making any changes to your medication regimen or before you take any over-the-counter supplements so you can be appropriately monitored.
Final Words
Thanks for reaching out! I hope this answer helped.
Be sure to check out our drug-herbal interaction checker to check your drugs with over 1,000 natural medicines. If you have any specific questions about a supplement, feel free to contact us, and we can add it to our database.
References & sources
- Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of Panax ginseng — PubMed
- Efficacy and safety of the standardised Ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold [corrected] — PubMed
- Electrocardiographic and blood pressure effects of energy drinks and Panax ginseng in healthy volunteers: A randomized clinical trial — 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-herbal interaction
- A situation where a medication and a natural plant-based substance affect each other's effectiveness or safety when taken together.
- Herbal ingredients
- Active substances derived from plants used in medicines or supplements for their health effects.
- Stimulant
- A substance that increases activity and alertness in the body and brain.
- Potentiate
- To strengthen or increase the effect of another substance.
- Clinically significant
- Important enough to produce a noticeable effect on a person's health or symptoms in real-world situations.
- Inactive ingredients
- Substances in a product that do not have a therapeutic effect but are used for binding, flavor, or preservation.
- Medication regimen
- A prescribed schedule or plan for taking medications.
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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