Overview

Calamus is a plant. The root (rhizome) is used to make medicine.

Despite safety concerns, calamus is commonly used for stomach problems, skin problems, earache, and to remove the smell of tobacco, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, calamus is used as a spice.

How does it work ?

It is thought that chemicals in calamus cause muscle relaxation and sleepiness. These chemicals might also reduce swelling, kill cancer cells, and kill insects.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of calamus for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Calamus is LIKELY UNSAFE. The FDA prohibits calamus use in food products because three of the four species of calamus found in the world contain a cancer-causing chemical called beta-asarone. However, the amount of beta-asarone can vary widely among species from 0% to 96%, so some products may be safer than others. The most common side effect from calamus is vomiting. Fast heart rate and slowed intestinal movements have also been reported.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if calamus is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Calamus is LIKELY UNSAFE. The FDA prohibits calamus use in food products because three of the four species of calamus found in the world contain a cancer-causing chemical called beta-asarone. However, the amount of beta-asarone can vary widely among species from 0% to 96%, so some products may be safer than others. The most common side effect from calamus is vomiting. Fast heart rate and slowed intestinal movements have also been reported.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if calamus is safe or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Calamus is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Avoid use.

Heart conditions: Calamus might lower blood pressure and heart rate. In theory, large amounts of calamus might worsen heart problems in some people with heart conditions.

Low blood pressure: Calamus might lower blood pressure. In theory, taking calamus might make blood pressure become too low in people with low blood pressure.

Surgery: Calamus can affect the central nervous system. It might cause too much sleepiness if combined with medications used during and after surgery. If you are using calamus despite safety concerns, stop using it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical might increase the side effects of some medications used for depression.

    Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.

  • Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking calamus along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.

    Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.

  • Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus might increase levels of certain chemical in the body that work in the brain, heart, and elsewhere. Some drying medications called "anticholinergic drugs" can also increase these chemicals, but in a different way. These drying medications might decrease the effects of calamus, and calamus might decrease the effects of drying medications.

    Some of these drying medications include atropine, scopolamine, some medications used for allergies (antihistamines), and some medications used for depression (antidepressants).

  • Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus might reduce blood pressure. Taking calamus along with medications used for lowering high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low. Do not take too much calamus if you are taking medications for high blood pressure.

    Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.

  • Various medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions (Cholinergic drugs) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus might increase certain chemicals in the brain, heart, and elsewhere in the body. Some medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions also affect these chemicals. Taking calamus with these medications might increase the chance of side effects.

    Some of these medications for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions include pilocarpine (Pilocar and others), donepezil (Aricept), tacrine (Cognex), and others.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates) interacts with CALAMUS

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Although this has not been shown in humans, calamus might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking calamus along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking calamus, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.

    Some medications changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), flecainide (Tambocor), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), paroxetine (Paxil), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), venlafaxine (Effexor), and others.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with CALAMUS

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Although this has not been shown in humans, calamus might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking calamus along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking clamus, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.

    Some medications changed by the liver include cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), indinavir (Crixivan), sildenafil (Viagra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.

    Minor Interaction

    Be watchful with this combination

  • Antacids interacts with CALAMUS

    Antacids are used to decrease stomach acid. Calamus may increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, calamus might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

    Some antacids include calcium carbonate (Tums, others), dihydroxyaluminum sodium carbonate (Rolaids, others), magaldrate (Riopan), magnesium sulfate (Bilagog), aluminum hydroxide (Amphojel), and others.

  • Medications that decrease stomach acid (H2-blockers) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, calamus might decrease the effectiveness of some medications that decrease stomach acid, called H2-blockers.

    Some medications that decrease stomach acid include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid).

  • Medications that decrease stomach acid (Proton pump inhibitors) interacts with CALAMUS

    Calamus might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, calamus might decrease the effectiveness of medications that are used to decrease stomach acid, called proton pump inhibitors.

    Some medications that decrease stomach acid include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

Dosing

The appropriate dose of calamus depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for calamus. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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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.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.