Barberry

Generic name: Barberry
Drug class: Herbal products

Usage of Barberry

Barberry is an herb, also called Agracejo, Berberidis, Berbéris, Berberis, Berberitze, Berberry, Berbis, Épine-Vinette, Espino Cambrón, Jaundice Berry, Mountain Grape, Oregon Grape, Pipperidge, Piprage, Sauerdorn, Sow Berry, Vinettier, and other names. The fruit, bark, and roots of the barberry plant are used to make an herbal medicine.

Barberry has been used in alternative medicine as an aid in treating dental plaque (tartar), swollen gums (gingivitis), kidney or bladder problems, stomach cramps, bowel problems, gout, arthritis, circulation problems, and other conditions. However, the use of barberry in these conditions has not been proven with research to be effective.

Barberry is likely to be safe when consumed as a food. But the safety of using barberry as a medicine has not been proven with research.

It is not certain whether barberry is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Barberry should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Barberry is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Barberry may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Barberry side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic Reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using barberry and call your healthcare provider at once if you have:

low blood sugar--headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Barberry

You should not use this product if you are allergic to barberry, or if you are also taking cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to take barberry if you have:

a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;

low blood pressure; or

diabetes (barberry can lower your blood sugar).

Do not use barberry if you are pregnant. Barberry may cause brain damage in a newborn if the mother takes this product during pregnancy. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking barberry.

Barberry can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while using this product.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice. Barberry may not be safe to give to an infant. This product contains a substance that could cause brain damage in a newborn baby, especially in a premature baby with jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

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Warnings

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What other drugs will affect Barberry

Taking barberry with medicine that can make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking barberry with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Do not take barberry without medical advice if you are using a medication to treat any of the following conditions:

any type of infection (including HIV, malaria, or tuberculosis);

asthma or allergies;

cancer;

erectile dysfunction;

heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);

high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a heart condition;

migraine headaches;

overactive bladder;

Parkinson's disease;

psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders;

a psyChiatric disorder; or

seizures.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with barberry, especially:

a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven); or

insulin or oral diabetes medicine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with barberry, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this product guide.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.