Turmeric

Generic name: Turmeric
Dosage form: oral capsule (1000 mg; 250 mg; 285 mg; 500 mg)
Drug class: Herbal products

Usage of Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that comes from a plant. Turmeric is also known as Curcuma, Curcumin, Halada, Haldi, Haridra, Indian Saffron, Nisha, Pian Jiang Huang, Rajani, Safran Bourbon, Safran de Batallita, Safran des Indes, Turmeric Root, Yu Jin, and other names. Turmeric should not be confused with Javanese turmeric root (Curcuma zedoaria).

Turmeric is commonly used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, and other foods. The turmeric root is also used to make alternative medicine.

Turmeric has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating the symptoms of seasonal allergies (hay fever), depression, mouth sores, reducing blood cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing osteoarthritis pain, or relieving itching caused by chronic kidney disease.

Turmeric has also been used to treat stomach ulcers and dementia. However, research has shown that turmeric may not be effective in treating these conditions.

Other uses not proven with research have included: acne, gout, wound healing, rheumatoid arthritis, prediabetes, tuberculosis, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and lowering the risk of a heart attack after bypass surgery.

Turmeric is thought to be possibly safe when taken for a short period of time as a mouth rinse or as an enema.

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

Turmeric 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.

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

Turmeric side effects

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

Although not all side effects are known, turmeric is thought to be likely safe for most people when used as directed.

Common side effects of turmeric may include:

nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;

constipation, indigestion;

bloating; or

diarrhea.

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 Turmeric

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have or have ever had:

diabetes;

gallstones or gallbladder disease;

an iron deficiency;

bleeding problems;

a stomach disorder called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);

endometriosis or uterine fibroids;

cancer of the breast, uterus, ovary (or other hormone-sensitive conditions); or

liver disease.

Turmeric when taken in medicinal amounts is considered likely unsafe to use during pregnancy. Taking turmeric during pregnancy could cause uterine bleeding or contractions.

Turmeric is likely to be safe during pregnancy when used in the small amounts that are found in spices or foods.

Ask a doctor before using this product if you are breastfeeding.

It may be harder for you to get a woman pregnant while you are using this product.

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

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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 Turmeric

Turmeric can harm your liver, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, birth control, high cholesterol, seizures, pain, or arthritis (including Advil).

Do not take turmeric without medical advice if you are using any of the following medicines:

insulin or oral diabetes medicine; or

medicine used to prevent blood clots--clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), aspirin, alteplase, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect turmeric. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

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.