Chasteberry

Are there any interactions with medications?

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Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Vitex agnus-castus seems to change hormone levels in the body. Birth control pills contain hormones. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with birth control pills might decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you take birth control pills along with vitex agnus-castus, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.

Some birth control pills include ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Triphasil), ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/35, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7), and others.

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Estrogens
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Vitex agnus-castus seems to change hormone levels in the body. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with estrogen pills might decrease the effects of estrogen pills.

Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.

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Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Vitex agnus-castus seems to affect a chemical in the brain called dopamine. Some medications for mental disorders help to decrease dopamine. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with medications for mental conditions might decrease the effectiveness of some medications for mental conditions.

Some medications for mental conditions include chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine (Clozaril), fluphenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine (Mellaril), thiothixene (Navane), and others.

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Medications used for Parkinson's disease (Dopamine agonists)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Vitex agnus-castus contains chemicals that affect the brain. These chemicals affect the brain similarly to some medications used for Parkinson's disease. Taking vitex agnus-castus with these medications might increase the effects and side effects of some medications used for Parkinson's disease.

Some medications used for Parkinson's disease include bromocriptine (Parlodel), levodopa (Dopar, component of Sinemet), pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), and others.

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Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Vitex agnus-castus seems to affect a certain brain chemical called dopamine. Metoclopramide (Reglan) also affects dopamine. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with metoclopramide might decrease the effectiveness of metoclopramide (Reglan).

Dosing considerations for Vitex Agnus-castus.

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

• For premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and other conditions, doses vary a lot. The dosing depends on the formulation of vitex agnus-castus used. The following specific extracts of vitex agnus-castus have been used in studies at the doses shown:
• A type of specific vitex agnus-castus extract Ze 440 (Prefemin, Zeller AG) 20 mg daily.
• A specific vitex agnus-castus extract BNO 1095 (Agnucaston/Cyclodynon, Bionorica AG) 20 mg daily.
• One capsule (Femicur) containing 1.6-3.0 mg of dried fruit extract (6.7-12.5:1) twice daily.
• For premenstrual dysphoric disorder: 20-40 mg/day.

Crude herb extracts are typically used in doses of 20-240 mg per day up to 1800 mg per day in 2-3 divided doses.