1.14 Interactions with Medications:
1.14.1 Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Senna is a type of laxative called a stimulant
laxative. Stimulant laxatives can decrease
potassium levels in the body. Low
potassium levels can increase the risk of side
effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).
1.14.2 Warfarin (Coumadin)
Senna can work as a laxative. In some
people, senna can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea
can increase the effects of warfarin and
increase the risk of bleeding. If you take
warfarin, do not take excessive amounts of
senna.
1.14.3 Water Pills (Diuretic Drugs)
Senna is a laxative. Some laxatives can
decrease potassium in the body. "Water
pills" can also decrease potassium in the
body. Taking senna along with "water pills"
might decrease potassium in the body too
much. Some "water pills" that can decrease
potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril),
chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide
(Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ,
Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.
1.14.4 Laxative
Children over the age of two years and
adults can orally take senna to treat
constipation, but only on a short-term basis,
which is about two weeks. If you take it any
longer than that, you could cause your
bowels to become dependent on it, and they
might stop functioning properly. Overuse of
senna can also cause an electrolyte
imbalance that could worsen heart disease.
Another use for senna is to cleanse the
bowels before a colonoscopy.
1.14.5 Losing Weight
To lose weight using senna typically means
taking the product for longer than the
recommended two weeks and possibly
taking more than the recommended dosage
of 17.2 milligrams daily. Overuse of this
herb is considered senna abuse and can
cause serious problems. Drugs.com reported
a case of an anorexia nervosa patient who
took up to 100 tablets of senna daily. When
you take more than the dosage
recommended on the package, you run the
risk, as this patient did, of developing
nephrocalcinosis, or too much calcium in the
kidneys; finger clubbing, a deformity of the
fingers; and osteoarthropathy, a bone and
joint disease.