Maca

Maca/Drug Interactions:

  • AnticoagulantsAnticoagulants: Plants in the Brassicaceae family are often rich in vitamin K, which may decrease the effects of warfarin.
  • AntihypertensivsAntihypertensivs: Maca may act as a stimulant and cause hypertension, thus antagonizing the effects of antihypertensive drugs (21).
  • Hormone replacement therapyHormone replacement therapy: Maca may alter the levels of sex hormones, and may interfere with the effects of hormone replacement therapy.
  • Oral contraceptivesOral contraceptives: Maca may alter the levels of sex hormones, and may interfere with the effects of oral contraception.
  • Stimulant drugsStimulant drugs: Maca may act as a stimulant and lead to additive or synergistic effects when used with other stimulants (21).

    • Maca/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Anticoagulant herbsAnticoagulant herbs: Plants in the Brassicaceae family are often rich in vitamin K, which may decrease the effects of some anticoagulant herbs.
  • Contraceptive herbsContraceptive herbs: Maca may alter the levels of sex hormones and may interfere with the effects of herbs taken for oral contraception.
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: Maca may act as a stimulant and cause hypertension, thus antagonizing the effects of antihypertensive herbs (21).
  • Menopause/hormone replacement herbsMenopause/hormone replacement herbs: Maca may alter the levels of sex hormones and thus, may interfere with herbal therapy used to treat symptoms of menopause, or herbal therapy used in lieu of standard hormone replacement therapy.
  • Stimulant herbsStimulant herbs: Theoretically, maca may act as a stimulant and lead to additive or synergistic effects when used with other stimulants.

    • Maca/Food Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Maca/Lab Interactions:

  • Hormone levelsHormone levels: Maca may alter the levels of sex hormones .
  • PT/INR assayPT/INR assay: Plants in the Brassicaceae family are often rich in vitamin K, which may lead to a lowering of the PT/INR assay of bleeding time.