saw palmetto

Pronunciation:

SAW pall MEH toe

What is the most important information I should know about saw palmetto?

Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have:

cancer of the prostate,
breast cancer, or
any other sex hormone-related disease or disorder.

Saw palmetto may affect hormone levels in your body which could be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Do not take saw palmetto without first seeing your doctor for a diagnosis of BPH. Other conditions, including cancer of the prostate, may produce symptoms similar to BPH.

Men over the age of 50 should have their prostate examined by a doctor on a regular basis. Saw palmetto is not a cure for BPH, it has only been used for relief of the symptoms of BPH.

Saw palmetto has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of saw palmetto may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is saw palmetto?

The use of saw palmetto in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Saw palmetto is also known as sabal, serenoa, American dwarf palm tree, and cabbage palm.

Saw palmetto has been used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), which is an enlargement of the prostate gland (not due to cancer). Saw palmetto has also been used to relieve difficult urination that may be associated with BPH and to relieve the symptoms of an irritable bladder.

Saw palmetto may have uses other than those listed in this product guide.

Who should not take saw palmetto?

Before taking saw palmetto, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Saw palmetto may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have:

cancer of the prostate,
breast cancer, or
any other sex hormone-related disease or disorder.

Saw palmetto may affect hormone levels in your body which could be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Do not take saw palmetto without first seeing your doctor for a diagnosis of BPH. Other conditions, including cancer of the prostate, may produce symptoms similar to BPH.

Do not take saw palmetto without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether saw palmetto will harm an unborn baby. Since saw palmetto may alter hormonal activity, it could be dangerous during pregnancy.

Do not take saw palmetto without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether saw palmetto will harm a nursing infant. Since saw palmetto may alter hormonal activity, it could be dangerous during breast-feeding.

There is no information available regarding the use of saw palmetto by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.

How should I take saw palmetto?

If you choose to take saw palmetto, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.

Saw palmetto is available in oral preparations.

It has been reported that saw palmetto may require 30 days of regular use before any beneficial effects are seen.

Saw palmetto has reportedly been used continuously for many years without evidence of side effects.

Men over the age of 50 should have their prostate examined by a doctor on a regular basis. Saw palmetto is not a cure for BPH, it has only been used for relief of the symptoms of BPH.

Do not take more of this product than is recommended.

Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of saw palmetto at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of saw palmetto.

Store saw palmetto as directed on the package. In general, saw palmetto should be protected from light and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose?

No information is available regarding a missed dose of saw palmetto. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you require further information.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a saw palmetto overdose have not been reported.

What should I avoid while taking saw palmetto?

There are no known restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking saw palmetto, unless otherwise directed by your health care professional.

What are the possible side effects of saw palmetto?

Although uncommon, allergic reactions to saw palmetto have been reported. Stop taking saw palmetto and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.

Other less serious side effects have also been reported. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience

cramping,
nausea,
diarrhea, or
headache.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect saw palmetto?

Do not take saw palmetto without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

birth control pills such as Triphasil, Ovral, Lo-Ovral, Nordette, Alesse, Demulen, Ortho-Novum, and many others;
estrogen replacement products such as Premarin, Cenestin, Vivelle, Climara, Fempatch, and many others;
tamoxifen (Nolvadex) or toremifene (Fareston);
testosterone (Androderm, Testoderm) or another anabolic steroid; or
any other hormone-based medicine.

Since saw palmetto may affect hormones in your body, you may not be able to take saw palmetto, or you may require special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with saw palmetto or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or other herbal/health supplements.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider may have more information about saw palmetto.

Consultation with a licensed health care professional is advisable before using any herbal/health supplement. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Remember, keep this and all other prescription drug products, over-the-counter drug products, and herbal/health supplements out of the reach of children.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.03. Revision date: 2/13/04.

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