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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Cat S Claw Safe With Fibromyalgia?

Hi! I am a 43 year old female with fibromyalgia, CFS, and IBS - I take levothyroxine .025mg and trivora 28 day tablets. I do not take pain meds because they cause me stomach upset and don t help with the pain. I have heard that cat s claw may help with my pain symptoms. Is cat s claw safe for me to take? If so, which strength should I start with? Thank you for your help! Teresa
Thu, 15 May 2014
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Ayurveda Specialist 's  Response
**
1. CFS [chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromylagia although are considered separate but related disorders, since they share a common symptom- 'fatigue'.

2. because Fibromyalgia is generally related to/dealt by rheumatologists and arthritis experts and Chronic fatigue syndrome is generally related to /dealt by immunologists and virus experts, thus treatment options may vary due to difference in opinions, despite their similarities.

3. In between one can recommend common treatments for the two, which include:

i. Sleep. Getting plenty of sleep is key to managing the symptoms of both syndromes, so it is important that they maintain good sleep habits and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
ii. Cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]: it teaches people how to recognize symptoms and self-treat using a variety of strategies such as relaxation therapy, cognitive pain management, and rest.

PS.
i. While exercise has been found to be very beneficial to fibromyalgia patients, aerobic exercise in particular has been shown to relieve symptoms
ii. chronic fatigue symptom patients are told to undertake moderate exercise, as their symptoms often grow worse following exertion.

The good news is that both syndromes can improve with careful diagnosis and thoughtful treatment.

4. cat's claw [uncaria tomentosa] is a herbal remedy which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and prevent the activation of several inflammatory substances in your body, so it can prevent damage to your body’s cells by interacting with harmful molecules (free radicals) which are produced within your cells.
PS. You should be cautious about taking cat’s claw if you take drug for hypertension because it may increase the effect of these drugs. You should also be cautious about using cat’s claw if you take immunosuppressive drugs.

5. Drug- drug Interactions:
Before taking ethinyl estradiol, tell your doctor if you also use levothyroxine. You may need dose adjustments or special tests in order to safely take both medications together. If you are already taking ethinyl estradiol and levothyroxine, your thyroid levels may need to be measured if your dose of ethinyl estradiol is changed or stopped. You should notify your doctor if you have symptoms of low thyroid such as tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, unexplained weight gain, depression, joint or muscle pain, thinning hair or hair loss, dry skin, hoarseness, and abnormal menstrual periods. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using your medications without first talking to your doctor first.
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Is Cat S Claw Safe With Fibromyalgia?

** 1. CFS [chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromylagia although are considered separate but related disorders, since they share a common symptom- fatigue . 2. because Fibromyalgia is generally related to/dealt by rheumatologists and arthritis experts and Chronic fatigue syndrome is generally related to /dealt by immunologists and virus experts, thus treatment options may vary due to difference in opinions, despite their similarities. 3. In between one can recommend common treatments for the two, which include: i. Sleep. Getting plenty of sleep is key to managing the symptoms of both syndromes, so it is important that they maintain good sleep habits and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. ii. Cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]: it teaches people how to recognize symptoms and self-treat using a variety of strategies such as relaxation therapy, cognitive pain management, and rest. PS. i. While exercise has been found to be very beneficial to fibromyalgia patients, aerobic exercise in particular has been shown to relieve symptoms ii. chronic fatigue symptom patients are told to undertake moderate exercise, as their symptoms often grow worse following exertion. The good news is that both syndromes can improve with careful diagnosis and thoughtful treatment. 4. cat s claw [uncaria tomentosa] is a herbal remedy which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and prevent the activation of several inflammatory substances in your body, so it can prevent damage to your body’s cells by interacting with harmful molecules (free radicals) which are produced within your cells. PS. You should be cautious about taking cat’s claw if you take drug for hypertension because it may increase the effect of these drugs. You should also be cautious about using cat’s claw if you take immunosuppressive drugs. 5. Drug- drug Interactions: Before taking ethinyl estradiol, tell your doctor if you also use levothyroxine. You may need dose adjustments or special tests in order to safely take both medications together. If you are already taking ethinyl estradiol and levothyroxine, your thyroid levels may need to be measured if your dose of ethinyl estradiol is changed or stopped. You should notify your doctor if you have symptoms of low thyroid such as tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, unexplained weight gain, depression, joint or muscle pain, thinning hair or hair loss, dry skin, hoarseness, and abnormal menstrual periods. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using your medications without first talking to your doctor first.