What is evening primrose?
Evening primrose is a flowering plant also known as Oenothera biennis, scabish, king's cureall,
night willow herb, sun drop, and fever plant.
Evening primrose has been used in alternative medicine as an aid in treating heart disease, high
cholesterol, circulation problems, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, breast pain, certain symptoms
of menopause, eczema, psoriasis, acne, osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis. It has also been used in
cancer, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, diabetes, hyperactivity, and stomach or intestinal disorders.
Not all uses for evening primrose have been approved by the FDA. Evening primrose
should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.
Evening primrose is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing
standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be
contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a
reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Evening primrose may also be used for other purposes not listed in this product guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking evening primrose?
You should not use this product if you are allergic to evening primrose.
Do not take evening primrose without the advice of a doctor if you have:
-
epilepsy or a seizure disorder;
-
schizophrenia;
-
a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder; or
-
if you plan to have any type of surgery.
It is not known whether evening primrose is harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not use this product without talking to a healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether evening primrose passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Ask your healthcare provider before using evening primrose if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.
How should I take evening primrose?
When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also
consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.
If you choose to take evening primrose, use it as directed on the package or as directed by
your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of evening primrose than is
recommended on the label.
Do not use different formulations of evening primrose at the same time without first talking to
your healthcare provider. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an evening primrose
overdose.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using
evening primrose. Evening primrose may increase the risk of bleeding, and you may need to stop
taking this product for at least 2 weeks before surgery.
If your condition does not improve, or if it appears to get worse, contact your doctor.
Store evening primrose as directed on the package.
What happens if I miss a dose of evening primrose?
Consult your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider for instructions if you
miss a dose.
Where can I get more information about evening primrose?
Your pharmacist has information about evening primrose written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of evening primrose?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking evening primrose and call your healthcare provider at once if you have a seizure
(convulsions).
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, and you may have none at all.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional about any side effect that seems
unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about evening primrose?
Do not take evening primrose without the advice of a doctor if you have epilepsy or a
seizure disorder, schizophrenia, a bleeding disorder, or if you are taking blood thinners or an
antipsychotic medication.
Not all uses for evening primrose have been approved by the FDA. Evening primrose
should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.
Evening primrose is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing
standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be
contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a
reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Use evening primrose as directed on the label, or as your healthcare provider has prescribed.
Do not use this product in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
What should I avoid while taking evening primrose?
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or
activity.
What other drugs will affect evening primrose?
Do not take evening primrose without the advice of a healthcare provider if you are using
any of the following medications:
-
a blood thinner such as heparin, dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin
(Lovenox), or warfarin (Coumadin);
-
clopidogrel (Plavix);
-
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine),
indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), meloxicam (Mobic), piroxicam (Feldene),
and others; or
-
medicines used to treat psychiatric disorders, such as
chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon),
prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Pentazine, Phenergan, Phenadoz,
Promethegan), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
evening primrose. Tell your healthcare provider about all your prescription and over-the-counter
medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a
new medication without telling your healthcare provider.
What happens if I have an overdose of evening primrose?
