Adaptogens side effects
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Side Effects of Adaptogens: A Comprehensive Overview
Introduction to Adaptogens and Their Uses
Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body adapt to stress and exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. They are often used to enhance mental performance, physical endurance, and overall well-being. However, like any other supplement, adaptogens can have side effects, especially when used in combination with other medications.
Adverse Events with Antidepressant Interactions
Common Side Effects
A retrospective chart review has highlighted several adverse events associated with the interaction between adaptogens and antidepressant drugs. The study evaluated 1,816 reports and found that adaptogens were involved in 9% of adverse events when used with antidepressants. Specific side effects included:
- Withania somnifera: Testicle pain, ejaculatory dysfunctions, severe diarrhea, myalgia, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, restless legs syndrome, severe cough, generalized myalgia, ophthalmalgia, and ocular hypertension when combined with various antidepressants 1.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding, epistaxis, vaginal hemorrhage, irritability, agitation, headache, and dizziness 1.
- Schisandra chinensis: Arthralgia, thrombocytopenia, delirium, and dysuria 1.
- Tribulus terrestris: Generalized pruritus, galactorrhea, and psoriasis relapse 1.
- Coptis chinensis: Arrhythmias, edema of lower limbs, myalgia, and gynecomastia 1.
- Cimicifuga racemosa: Restless legs syndrome, gynecomastia, mastalgia, and hyponatremia 1.
- Bacopa monnieri: Back pain, hyperhidrosis, and myocardial infarction 1.
- Gynostemma pentaphyllum: Back pain 1.
- Cordyceps sinensis: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding 1.
- Lepidium meyenii: Restless legs syndrome 1.
- Scutellaria baicalensis: Seizures 1.
Mechanisms of Interaction
The adverse events are often due to pharmacokinetic interactions, such as the inhibition of CYP enzymes and p-glycoprotein, which can lead to clinically significant side effects 1.
Single Dose Administration and Safety
Minimal Side Effects
A review focusing on the single-dose administration of adaptogens like Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis, and Eleutherococcus senticosus found that these adaptogens typically do not produce side effects. Unlike traditional stimulants, they do not cause addiction, tolerance, or negative effects on sleep structure 2. This makes them a safer alternative for acute stress management.
Adaptogens in Cancer Therapy
Potential Benefits and Risks
Adaptogens have also been studied for their potential to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy. A study on the effects of adaptogens on neuroglia cells exposed to chemotherapy drugs found that adaptogens could prevent the deregulation of genes associated with toxicity. This suggests potential benefits in reducing hepato-, nephro-, and cardiotoxicity during cancer treatment 4. However, the study did not provide conclusive evidence on the physiological effects in human patients, indicating the need for further research 4.
Conclusion
While adaptogens offer numerous benefits, they can also cause significant side effects, particularly when used in combination with other medications like antidepressants. Clinicians should monitor patients closely for adverse events and consider potential pharmacokinetic interactions. Further research is needed to fully understand the safety profile of adaptogens, especially in complex therapeutic regimens.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Harder, better, faster, stronger? Retrospective chart review of adverse events of interactions between adaptogens and antidepressant drugs
Adaptogens and antidepressants can cause adverse events, with some adaptogens showing more severe side effects than antidepressants.
Stimulating effect of adaptogens: an overview with particular reference to their efficacy following single dose administration
Single doses of adaptogens from Rhodiola rosea, Schizandra chinensis, and Eleutherococcus senticosus effectively increase mental performance and physical working capacity without side effects.
Highly CitedThe influence of adaptogens on ultraweak biophoton emission: a pilot‐experiment
Rhodiola rosea supplements significantly decrease ultraweak photon emission and fatigue levels, while ADAPT-232 shows no significant changes compared to placebo.
RCTAdaptogens in chemobrain (Part III): Antitoxic effects of plant extracts towards cancer chemotherapy-induced toxicity - transcriptome-wide microarray analysis of neuroglia cells.
Adaptogenic herbal extracts, such as andrographolide and Eleutherococcus roots, can reduce cancer chemotherapy-induced toxicity and increase survival by promoting cell survival and DNA repair.
In Vitro Study
Rigorous JournalEleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae) as an adaptogen: a closer look.
Eleutherococcus senticosus, or Siberian ginseng, contains pharmacologically active compounds that exhibit various beneficial effects, but the term adaptogen is vague and lacks insights into its mechanism(s).
Highly CitedEffects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity
Adaptogens enhance stress resistance and mental capacity by regulating homeostasis through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and key stress response mediators.
Highly CitedAdaptogens exert a stress-protective effect by modulation of expression of molecular chaperones.
Adaptogens increase stress tolerance by increasing serum Hsp72 levels, which serves as a defense response to stress, and may be linked to increased protein repair during physical load.
Non-RCT
Animal StudyHighly CitedEvolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases
Adaptogenic plants promote adaptability, resilience, and survival in stress, offering potential for treating stress-induced and aging-related disorders.
Literature ReviewHighly CitedAdaptogens on Depression-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Integrative Review and Rationale of Synergism with Physical Activity
St. John's Wort and saffron are effective adaptogens for depression, and their combination with physical exercise may be a safe and powerful treatment strategy.
Systematic ReviewEffects of an Adaptogenic Extract on Electrical Activity of the Brain in Elderly Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Armed Cross-Over Study
Adaptra® Forte, a combination of plant extracts from Andrographis paniculata and Withania somnifera, effectively improves cognitive performance and reduces stress in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
RCT