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Prickly pear cactus is a plant. It is part of the diet in Mexican and Mexican-American cultures and is also used for medicine.
Prickly pear cactus is most commonly used for diabetes.
Prickly pear cactus might lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels by decreasing the absorption of sugar and cholesterol in the stomach and intestine.
When taken by mouth: Prickly pear cactus is LIKELY SAFE when eaten as food. The pads, flowers, and fruit are POSSIBLY SAFE when taken as medicine in appropriate amounts for a short period of time. In some people, prickly pear cactus can cause some minor side effects including diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and headache. In rare cases, eating large amounts of prickly pear cactus fruits can cause a blockage in the lower intestines.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if prickly pear cactus is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Diabetes: Prickly pear cactus might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use prickly pear cactus.
Surgery: Prickly pear cactus might affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using prickly pear cactus at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Chlorpropamide (Diabinese) is used to decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Prickly pear cactus might also decrease blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with chlorpropamide (Diabinese) might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your chlorpropamide (Diabinese) might need to be changed.
Glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) is used to decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Prickly pear cactus might also decrease blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) might need to be changed.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Prickly pear cactus can decrease blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Metformin (Glucophage)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Metformin (Glucophage) is used to decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Prickly pear cactus might also decrease blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with metformin (Glucophage) might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your metformin (Glucophage) might need to be changed.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Prickly pear cactus might lower blood sugar. Using it along with other herbs and supplements that have the same effect might cause blood sugar to drop too low in some people. Some of these products include agaricus mushroom, devil's claw, fenugreek, guar gum, Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and others.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
ADULTS
BY MOUTH:
- For diabetes: 300 grams of steamed prickly pear cactus pad or 500 grams of broiled pads of prickly pear cactus have been taken as a single dose.
Barbary Fig, Cactus decumanus, Cactus ficus-indica, Cactus Flowers, Cactus Fruit, Cactus Pear Fruit, Figue d'Inde, Figuier de Barbarie, Fruit du Cactus, Fruit de l'Oponce, Indian Fig, Indian Fig Prickly Pear, Indien Figue, Nopal, Nopal Cactus, Nopales, Nopol, OPI, Oponce, Opuntia, Opuntia albicarpa, Opuntia amyclaea, Opuntia cordobensis, Opuntia decumana, Opuntia ficus, Opuntia ficus-barbarica, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia gymnocarpa, Opuntia hispanica, Opuntia joconostle, Opuntia maxima, Opuntia megacantha, Opuntia paraguayensis, Prickly Pear, Spineless Cactus, Tuna Cactus.
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