Abstract
The management of neuropsychiatric disorders relies heavily on pharmacotherapy. The
use of herbal products as complimentary medicine, often concomitantly, is common among patients
taking prescription neuropsychiatric drugs. Herb-drug interaction, a clinical consequence of this
practice, may jeopardize the success of pharmacotherapy in neuropsychiatry. Besides the wellknown
ability of phytochemicals to inhibit and/or induce drug-metabolizing enzymes and transport
proteins, several phytoconstituents are capable of exerting pharmacological effects on the central
nervous system. This study reviewed the relevant literature and identified 13 commonly used herbal
products - celery, echinacea, ginkgo, ginseng, hydroxycut, kava, kratom, moringa, piperine, rhodiola,
St. John’s wort, terminalia/commiphora ayurvedic mixture and valerian - which have shown clinically
relevant interactions with prescription drugs used in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders.
The consequent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions with orthodox medications
often result in deleterious clinical consequences. This underscores the importance of caution in
herb-drug co-medication.
Keywords:
Complimentary medicine, herb-drug interaction, neuropsychiatry, pharmacotherapy, St. John’s wort, antipsychotic drug.
Graphical Abstract
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