Adverse Effects and Herb Interactions

Figure 9. Drug-related interactions

Furthermore, the herb has been tested in numerous pharmacological and toxicological studies that have shown it produces no untoward side effects or reactions⁸. For instance, the isolated bacosides A and B were given in doses ranging from 20 mg to 300 mg to 31 healthy, male volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose tolerance study. Likewise, 20 healthy, human subjects participated in a multiple-dose study, where ten of them received 100 mg doses of bacosides A and B, and the other ten received 200 mg doses. Monitoring the patients before and after the testing period in both cases revealed that they had no drug-related abnormalities.

Figure 10. Take caution

However, it is also important to consider how this herb affects our brain, in particular, when given alongside other drugs. A specific study reported that Bacopa monnieri reversed the cognitive impairment produced by phenytoin, an antiepileptic drug that was given concomitantly with the plant extract, in mice. Similarly, the herb reduced morphine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, when administered alongside the opioid, by significantly lessening lipid peroxidation and the concentration of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione within the hepatic tissue³. In fact, it also additively interacted with hypothyroid, calcium-blocking, and cytochrome P450 enzyme metabolizing medicine, so caution would be necessary when using those drugs⁹. Finally, the plant usually produces a mild sedative effect, and so, care should be taken when given with other known sedatives³.