keep reading... talks of liver damage and kava kava A Systematic Review of the Safety of Kava Extract in the Treatment of Anxiety.

December 29, 2006

A Systematic Review of the Safety of Kava Extract in the Treatment of

Anxiety.

Review Article

Drug Safety. 25(4):251-261, 2002.

Stevinson, Clare; Huntley, Alyson; Ernst, Edzard

Abstract:

This paper systematically reviews the clinical evidence relating to the

safety of extracts of the herbal anxiolytic kava (Piper methysticum).

Literature searches were conducted in four electronic databases and the

reference lists of all papers located were checked for further relevant

publications. Information was also sought from the spontaneous reporting

schemes of the WHO and national drug safety bodies and ten manufacturers

of kava preparations were contacted.

Data from short-term post-marketing surveillance studies and clinical

trials suggest that adverse events are, in general, rare, mild and

reversible. However, published case reports indicate that serious adverse

events are possible including dermatological reactions, neurological

complications and, of greatest concern, liver damage. Spontaneous

reporting schemes also suggest that the most common adverse events are

mild, but that serious ones occur. Controlled trials suggest that kava

extracts do not impair cognitive performance and vigilance or potentiate

the effects of central nervous system depressants. However, a possible

interaction with benzodiazepines has been reported.

It is concluded that when taken as a short-term monotherapy at recommended

doses, kava extracts appear to be well tolerated by most users. Serious

adverse events have been reported and further research is required to

determine the nature and frequency of such events.

" and the beat goes on....... " Sonny Bono " It's not the years in your life that

count. It's the life in your years. " Abraham Lincoln

__________________________________________________

Recommended Posts