Berberine Side Effects and Medication Interactions
The typical dose of berberine is 500 milligrams, two to three times a day, Foroutan says, though there are potential side effects to monitor. These may include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Constipation
Foroutan says that the digestive issues should go away within a few days or a week, and that you may be able to start by taking a 500-milligram dose once a day and then increase the amount once your body gets used to it. Because everyone’s different, be sure to ask your healthcare team which dosage is right for you.
Keep in mind, as well, that supplements such as berberine are not regulated by the FDA, says Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES, a diabetes educator in Prescott, Arizona.
“If you buy a supplement, you’re never exactly sure what’s in it, so you have to be cautious about that,” she says.
Grieger adds that you should always tell your doctor about any herbs or supplements you take, as they may have negative interactions with other medications.
“Berberine does seem to lower blood sugar levels in some people, so there’s a risk that, say, they’re taking metformin and then they add the berberine supplement to it and their blood sugar could drop lower than they think,” she says.
Berberine also may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising while you are taking some blood-thinning medications.
Read the full article here
