Uses

Horse chestnut has been used for swelling and pain due to varicose veins and poor circulation in the legs.Some herbal/dietary supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. Check with your pharmacist for more details about the brand you use.The FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or effectiveness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

How to use Horse Chestnut

Take this product by mouth as directed. Follow all directions on the product package. Check the label carefully to make sure you have the correct product. Horse chestnut seed extract is different than whole horse chestnut seeds. Do not take the raw seeds, bark, flowers, or leaves of horse chestnut by mouth because these products are poisonous. Use only standardized horse chestnut seed extract products that have had the toxin removed. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This herbal product should only be used short-term. It should not be used for more than 3 months.

If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right away.

Side Effects

Upset stomach, headache, and dizziness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

This product may cause your urine to turn red. This is harmless.

This product may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if you have diabetes. Symptoms of low blood sugar include chills, cold sweat, blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, shaking, fast heartbeat, weakness, headache, fainting, tingling hands/feet, or hunger. It is a good habit to carry glucose tablets or gel to treat low blood sugar. If you don't have these reliable forms of glucose, rapidly raise your blood sugar by eating a quick source of sugar such as table sugar, honey, or candy, or drink fruit juice or non-diet soda. Tell your doctor right away about the reaction and the use of this product. To help prevent low blood sugar, eat meals on a regular schedule, and do not skip meals.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: easy or unusual bleeding/bruising.

A very serious allergic reaction to this product is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking horse chestnut, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. People allergic to latex should not take horse chestnut because they may be at greater risk of having an allergic reaction to it. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product: bleeding or clotting problems, kidney problems, liver problems, diabetes, stomach/intestinal problems (such as infection/inflammatory disease of the gut).

This product may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Liquid products may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.

This product is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this product.

It is unknown if this product passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some drugs that may interact with this product include: "blood thinners" (such as warfarin, heparin), anti-platelet drugs (such as clopidogrel, ticlopidine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen), herbal products that may increase the risk of bleeding (such as danshen, garlic, ginseng).

Aspirin may also increase the risk of bleeding when used with this product. If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually 81-162 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Consult your doctor for more information.

Does Horse Chestnut interact with other drugs you are taking?
Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes Notes

Keep all medical and lab appointments.

Missed Dose Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage Storage

Refer to storage information printed on the package. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications and herbal products away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Images

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.