BUTTERBUR
Patient Counselling
Patient Counselling
- Butterbur can be used to treat intermittent allergic rhinitis and can be helpful in relieving nasal and ocular symptoms.
- The doses that can be used are: 50 mg of standardized butterbur twice daily for 1-2 weeks or carbon dioxide extract standardized to 8 mg of petasin two to four times daily for 1-2 weeks.
- Minimal side effects should be expected. Common side effects are nausea, flatulence and burping, headache, fatigue and dizziness. There may also be allergic reactions to butterbur if the patient has allergies to ragweed. There is a potential for increased liver enzymes so it should be avoided in patients with liver disease.
- It should not be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding or children.
References
1. Kaufeler R, Polasek W, Brattstrom A, Koetter U. Efficacy and safety of butterbur herbal extract Ze 339 in seasonal allergic rhinitis: postmarketing surveillance study. Adv Ther. 2006;23(2):373-384.
2. Natural Standard. Butterbur Professional Monograph. Available at: https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/b/butterbur/professional.aspx. Accessed on July 12, 2014.
3. Lexicomp. Butterbur (Natural Products Database). Available at: http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/fc_rnp2/3750072. Accessed on July 12, 2014.
- Butterbur can be used to treat intermittent allergic rhinitis and can be helpful in relieving nasal and ocular symptoms.
- The doses that can be used are: 50 mg of standardized butterbur twice daily for 1-2 weeks or carbon dioxide extract standardized to 8 mg of petasin two to four times daily for 1-2 weeks.
- Minimal side effects should be expected. Common side effects are nausea, flatulence and burping, headache, fatigue and dizziness. There may also be allergic reactions to butterbur if the patient has allergies to ragweed. There is a potential for increased liver enzymes so it should be avoided in patients with liver disease.
- It should not be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding or children.
References
1. Kaufeler R, Polasek W, Brattstrom A, Koetter U. Efficacy and safety of butterbur herbal extract Ze 339 in seasonal allergic rhinitis: postmarketing surveillance study. Adv Ther. 2006;23(2):373-384.
2. Natural Standard. Butterbur Professional Monograph. Available at: https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/b/butterbur/professional.aspx. Accessed on July 12, 2014.
3. Lexicomp. Butterbur (Natural Products Database). Available at: http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/fc_rnp2/3750072. Accessed on July 12, 2014.