devils claw

[songbird74]

someone has recommended I try devils claw for my bad knees. Anyone know if it is OK to take with Rivaoxaban and beta blocker? It is anti inflammatory so I wonder if it is bad like NSAIDs?

[gwenny31]

I'm on warfarin and using Devils Claw gel occasionally does not seem to effect my INR. I would steer clear of the tablet form of Devils Claw though. It is absolutely marvellous for pain relief. Takes bruises and swelling down too. Cannot impart any info about your blood thinner though, although I have a friend who uses it with Apixiban and has no problems.

[fnurd in reply to gwenny31]

I was wondering why you would avoid the tablet form of Devil's claw. It is not a drug I am familiar with, but I believe it is supposed to have few side effects.

[gwenny31 in reply to fnurd]

I read somewhere that if administered locally to the spot where required, the spot and a small area around it will receive the medication, which is much safer than a larger mass entering the whole of the bloodstream in tablet form, going through the digestive system initially and therefore have an effect on more than is required.

[gwenny31 in reply to fnurd]

Also it is a known blood thinner.

[fnurd in reply to gwenny31]

I have had a look and can’t find anything about the anticoagulant effects of devils claw. There appears to be little evidence but some think it may enhance the anticoagulant effects of warfarin, but some suggest the opposite. So if you are not on anticoagulants then presumably that would not be an issue.

I have worked on gels and sprays for application to arthritic knees, and the results show that although they do work, the pain reducing effect is considerably less that for the tablets.This is because very little gets through the skin, even with high-tech sprays.

[BobD Volunteer]

Speak to your pharmacist as these people are the experts in such matters. We are unable to give such advice.