Overview
Despite serious safety concerns, jalap is sometimes used to empty and cleanse the bowels (as a cathartic or purgative), and to increase urine flow to relieve water retention (as a diuretic).
Don't confuse jalap (Ipomoea purga) with pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) or Mexican scammony root (Ipomoea orizabensis). These plants are also known as jalap.
How does it work ?
Uses & Effectiveness
Insufficient Evidence for
- Emptying and cleansing the bowels (cathartic, purgative).
- Increasing the body's loss of water by increasing urine production (diuretic).
- Other conditions.
Side Effects
Special Precautions and Warnings
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to use jalap when pregnant. It might start your period, and that could cause a miscarriage. It's UNSAFE to use jalap when breast-feeding.
Digestive tract problems, such as appendicitis, ulcers, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, or other conditions: Don't use jalap if you have one of these conditions. Jalap can irritate the digestive tract and make your condition worse.
Interactions
Stimulant laxatives interacts with JALAP
Jalap is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking jalap along with other stimulant laxatives could speed up the bowels too much and cause dehydration and low minerals in the body.
Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.
Major Interaction
Do not take this combination
Digoxin (Lanoxin) interacts with JALAP
Jalap is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).
Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with JALAP
Jalap can work as a laxative. In some people jalap can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take warfarin, do not to take excessive amounts of jalap.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with JALAP
Jalap is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking jalap along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Lithium interacts with JALAP
Jalap might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic". Taking jalap might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Minor Interaction
Be watchful with this combination
Dosing
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.
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© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.