Chaparral

Generic name: Chaparral
Drug class: Herbal products

Usage of Chaparral

Chaparral is a plant also known as Creosote Bush, Créosotier, Greasewood, Hediondilla, Jarilla, and Larreastat.

Chaparral has been used in alternative medicine as an aid in treating colds, skin disorders, cancer, arthritis, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, stomach cramps, gas, weight loss, bladder infection, or chickenpox. Chaparral has not been proven with research to be effective in treating these conditions.

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

Chaparral 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.

Chaparral is considered unsafe due to reports of kidney or liver damage, or serious poisoning from the use of this product.

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

Chaparral side effects

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

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

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

signs of a kidney problem--little or no urinating; painful or difficult urination; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath.

Common side effects of chaparral may include:

nausea, stomach pain;

diarrhea, weight loss;

fever;

itching or rash (when used on the skin); or

abnormal liver function tests.

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 Chaparral

You should not use this product if you are allergic to chaparral or if you have:

liver disease; or

kidney disease.

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have other medical conditions.

Chaparral may harm an unborn baby. Do not use this product if you are pregnant.

Chaparral may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using chaparral.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

Relate drugs

Warnings

Chaparral is considered unsafe due to reports of kidney or liver damage, or serious poisoning.

You should not use this product if you have liver or kidney disease.

What other drugs will affect Chaparral

Do not take chaparral without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications that can be harmful to your liver:

acetaminophen (Tylenol);

leflunomide, teriflunomide;

methotrexate;

an antibiotic, antifungal medicine, sulfa drug, or tuberculosis medicine;

birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;

cholesterol-lowering medications--Crestor, Lipitor, Pravachol, Simcor, Vytorin, Zocor, and others;

gout or arthritis medications (including gold injections);

HIV/AIDS medications;

medicines to treat mental illness;

an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), Diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, others;

seizure medication--Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and others; or

steroids (prednisone and others).

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