chaparral
Generic Name: chaparral (SHAH peh rel)
Brand Names:
What is chaparral?
The use of chaparral in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by
current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a
primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained
in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all
health care providers involved may be advantageous.
Chaparral is also known as Larrea tridentata, Larrea divaricata, creosote bush, greasewood,
and hediondilla.
Chaparral has been used for rheumatism, arthritis, stomach pain, cancer, and the common
cold.
Since the efficacy of chaparral has not been proven and its use has been associated with
serious liver damage, ingestion of chaparral is generally not recommended.
Chaparral has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All
potential risks and/or advantages of chaparral may not be known. Additionally, there are no
regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where
herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs.
Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of
contamination.
Chaparral may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about chaparral?
Since the efficacy of chaparral has not been proven and its use has been associated with
serious liver damage, ingestion of chaparral is generally not recommended.
Chaparral has been associated with cases of severe liver damage. Notify your doctor
immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,
yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, or clay colored stools. These symptoms may be early signs
of liver damage.
Chaparral has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All
potential risks and/or advantages of chaparral may not be known. Additionally, there are no
regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where
herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs.
Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of
contamination.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chaparral?
Do not take chaparral without first talking to your doctor if you are taking a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAO inhibitor) including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate). Chaparral may interact with these medicines.
Before taking chaparral, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you
have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other medicines or
other herbal/health supplements. Chaparral may not be recommended in some situations.
Do not take chaparral without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether chaparral will be harmful to an unborn
baby.
Do not take chaparral without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether chaparral will be harmful to a nursing infant.
There is no information available regarding the use of chaparral by children. Do not
give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.
How should I take chaparral?
The use of chaparral in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by
current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a
primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained
in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all
health care providers involved may be advantageous.
Since the efficacy of chaparral has not been proven and its use has been associated with
serious liver damage, ingestion of chaparral is generally not recommended.
If you choose to take chaparral, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your
doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may
provide a more reliable dose of the product.
Take the pill forms of chaparral with a full glass of water.
To ensure the correct dose, measure the liquid forms of chaparral with a dropper or a
dose-measuring spoon or cup.
Some forms of chaparral can be brewed to form a tea for drinking.
Topical forms of chaparral are intended for external use only.
Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, liquids, teas, and others) of chaparral at
the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different
formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of chaparral.
Store chaparral as directed on the package. In general, chaparral should be protected from
light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
No information is available regarding a missed dose of chaparral. Consult your doctor,
pharmacist, or health care professional if you require further information.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
Symptoms of a chaparral overdose are not known.
What should I avoid while taking chaparral?
There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking chaparral, unless
otherwise directed by your health care provider.
Chaparral side effects
Although rare, allergic reactions to chaparral may occur. Stop taking chaparral and seek
emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including
difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.
Chaparral has been associated with cases of severe liver damage. Notify your doctor
immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,
yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, or clay colored stools. These symptoms may be early signs
of liver damage.
Skin rash has been reported after coming in contact with the chaparral plant. Contact your
doctor or health care provider if you develop a rash or other skin irritation with the use of chaparral.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side
effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect chaparral?
Do not take chaparral without first talking to your doctor if you are taking a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAO inhibitor) including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate). Chaparral may interact with these medicines.
Interactions between chaparral and other prescription or over-the-counter medicines or
herbal/health supplements have not been reported. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care
professional before taking chaparral if you are taking any other medicines, vitamins, minerals, or
supplements.
Where can I get more information?
-
Your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider may have more information about
chaparral.
-
Consultation with a licensed health care professional is advisable before using any
herbal/health supplement. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of
herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all health care
providers involved may be advantageous. Remember, keep this and all other prescription drug
products, over-the-counter drug products, and herbal/health supplements out of the reach of children.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date,
and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has
been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses
outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs,
diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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. Multum
does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum 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.
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.03. Revision Date: 2/13/04 4:08:29 PM.
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