Background

Ceylon leadwort is a shrub that grows in India and other parts of Southwest Asia. It is used as a medicine in Africa and Asia.

Orally, Ceylon leadwort is used for birth control, diarrhea, constipation, stomach ulcers, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Ceylon leadwort is safe or what the side effects might be.

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

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Ceylon leadwort is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth or applied to the skin when pregnant or breastfeeding. Ceylon leadwort might cause an abortion; avoid using.

Diabetes: There is some concern that taking Ceylon leadwort might make it more difficult to control blood sugar. If you take Ceylon leadwort, monitor your blood sugar levels closely.

Surgery: Ceylon leadwort might prolong bleeding and interfere with blood sugar control. Stop taking Ceylon leadwort at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of Ceylon leadwort 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 Ceylon leadwort. 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.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Estrogens

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Ceylon leadwort might decrease the effects of estrogens.
Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ceylon leadwort might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Ceylon leadwort, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ceylon leadwort might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Ceylon leadwort, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some of these medications changed by the liver include ketamine (Ketalar), phenobarbital, orphenadrine (Norflex), secobarbital (Seconal), dexamethasone (Decadron), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ceylon leadwort might change how the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Ceylon leadwort, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), and warfarin (Coumadin).

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ceylon leadwort might decrease how quickly the body breaks down some medications. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Ceylon leadwort as a medicine, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications that are changed by the body include amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ceylon leadwort might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Ceylon leadwort as a medicine, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications that are changed by the liver include acetaminophen, chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte), ethanol, theophylline, and drugs used for anesthesia during surgery such as enflurane (Ethrane), halothane (Fluothane), isoflurane (Forane), and methoxyflurane (Penthrane).

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ceylon leadwort might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Ceylon leadwort as a medicine, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Medications that might be affected include certain heart medications called calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil), cancer drugs (etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine), fungus-fighting drugs (ketoconazole, itraconazole), glucocorticoids, alfentanil (Alfenta), cisapride (Propulsid), fentanyl (Sublimaze), lidocaine (Xylocaine), losartan (Cozaar), midazolam (Versed), and others.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Ceylon leadwort might make it more difficult to control blood sugar. Diabetes medications are used to lower blood sugar. Taking Ceylon leadwort with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Ceylon leadwort can decrease the effects of the immune system. By decreasing the immune system, Ceylon leadwort might increase the effectiveness and side effects of medications that decrease the immune system.
Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Ceylon leadwort might slow blood clotting. Taking Ceylon leadwort along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Herbs and supplements that decrease blood sugar: Ceylon leadwort might affect blood sugar control. Using it along with other herbs and supplements that have the same effect might cause blood sugar to drop too low in some people. Some of these products include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Ceylon leadwort might slow blood clotting. Using it with other herbs or supplements that have this same effect might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in some people. These herbs include angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, horse chestnut, red clover, turmeric, and others.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Ceylon leadwort contains a chemical called plumbagin that might kill bacteria and cancer cells. Plumbagin might also have effects on fertility and the immune system.