32 years
What does Rhodiola do? Is it safe? Can we take it if we are on antidepressants?
Sep 24, 2014
Rhodiola is a plant used in traditional medicine in Eastern Europe and Asia to promote and enhance physical and mental performance, stimulate the nervous system, and defend against depression. Rhodiola rosea extract and its key ingredient, salidroside, have been researched, although studies in humans are limited.
Lab research studies have shown that salidroside from rhodiola may impart neuroprotective and anticancer effects.
Supplementation with rhodiola has also been shown to:
- improve physical endurance and mental performance
- reduce stress-induced fatigue in humans, and
- improve symptoms of stress.
It remains though that well-designed studies are needed to determine the true efficacy of rhodiola in humans.
Preliminary data also suggest that it may be effective against generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) , and in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
Additionally, a small study concluded that salidroside may have cardioprotective effects in patients with breast cancer receiving treatment with epirubicin (a chemo agent), but more data need to be obtained to ascertain this claim.
Reported herb-drug interactions include:
- Cytochrome P450 (a liver enzyme that metabolizes many drugs) 3A4 substrates: Rhodiola inhibits CYP3A4 and can affect the concentration inside the cell of drugs metabolized by this enzyme.
- P-glycoprotein (an important protein of the cell membrane that pumps many foreign substances out of cells) substrates: Rhodiola was shown to inhibit P-gp activity and can interfere with the metabolism of certain drug.
- Antidepressants: Rhodiola has monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition activity and may increase the serotonergic side effects. Monoamine oxidase inhibition is used in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
- Antihypertensives: Rhodiola has MAO inhibition activity and may increase the hypotensive side effects.
- CNS Stimulants: Rhodiola has MAO inhibition activity and may enhance the hypertensive effect.
As such, if an individual is already receiving an antidepressant, co-administration of Rhodiola is not recommended.
Lab research studies have shown that salidroside from rhodiola may impart neuroprotective and anticancer effects.
Supplementation with rhodiola has also been shown to:
- improve physical endurance and mental performance
- reduce stress-induced fatigue in humans, and
- improve symptoms of stress.
It remains though that well-designed studies are needed to determine the true efficacy of rhodiola in humans.
Preliminary data also suggest that it may be effective against generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) , and in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
Additionally, a small study concluded that salidroside may have cardioprotective effects in patients with breast cancer receiving treatment with epirubicin (a chemo agent), but more data need to be obtained to ascertain this claim.
Reported herb-drug interactions include:
- Cytochrome P450 (a liver enzyme that metabolizes many drugs) 3A4 substrates: Rhodiola inhibits CYP3A4 and can affect the concentration inside the cell of drugs metabolized by this enzyme.
- P-glycoprotein (an important protein of the cell membrane that pumps many foreign substances out of cells) substrates: Rhodiola was shown to inhibit P-gp activity and can interfere with the metabolism of certain drug.
- Antidepressants: Rhodiola has monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition activity and may increase the serotonergic side effects. Monoamine oxidase inhibition is used in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
- Antihypertensives: Rhodiola has MAO inhibition activity and may increase the hypotensive side effects.
- CNS Stimulants: Rhodiola has MAO inhibition activity and may enhance the hypertensive effect.
As such, if an individual is already receiving an antidepressant, co-administration of Rhodiola is not recommended.
•
