Rauwolfia Alkaloids : Before Using

Rauwolfia Alkaloids - Systemic

Rauwolfia Alkaloids *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For rauwolfia alkaloids, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to rauwolfia alkaloids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substance, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Rauwolfia alkaloids have not been studied in pregnant women. However, too much use of rauwolfia alkaloids during pregnancy may cause unwanted effects - difficult breathing, low temperature, loss of appetite in the baby. In rats, use of rauwolfia alkaloids during pregnancy causes birth defects and in guinea pigs decreases newborn survival rates. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

Rauwolfia alkaloids pass into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects - difficult breathing, low temperature, loss of appetite in infants of mothers taking large doses of this drug. Be sure you have discussed this with your family doctor before taking this drug.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of rauwolfia alkaloids in child with use in other age groups, rauwolfia alkaloids are not expected to cause various side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. Although there is no special info comparing use of rauwolfia alkaloids in the elderly with use in other age groups, dizziness or drowsiness may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are more sensitive to the effects of rauwolfia alkaloids.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking rauwolfia alkaloids, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", selegiline " Eldepryl ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " Taking a rauwolfia alkaloid while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may increase the risk of central nervous system depression or may cause a severe high blood pressure reaction

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of rauwolfia alkaloids. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Allergies or other breathing problems such as asthma Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause breathing problems

Epilepsy

Gallstones
Stomach ulcer
Ulcerative colitis Rauwolfia alkaloids increase activity of the stomach, which may make the condition worse

Heart disease Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause heart rhythm problems or slow heartbeat

Kidney disease Some diseaseds may not do well when blood pressure is lowered by rauwolfia alkaloids

Mental depression - or history of Rauwolfia alkaloids cause mental depression

Parkinson's disease Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause parkinsonism-like effects

Pheochromocytoma