What dangerous consequence occurs if an herb causes a prescribed medication to be eliminated too slowly?
The drug level in the blood rises to toxic concentrations, overwhelming the kidneys' processing capacity.
Kidney patients often rely on precise dosing schedules for medications, frequently involving drugs metabolized or excreted via kidney/liver pathways. When an ingested herb interferes with these metabolic processes—specifically by causing the body to eliminate a necessary drug at a slower rate than intended—the drug accumulates in the bloodstream. This prolonged retention leads to drug concentrations exceeding safe limits, potentially reaching toxic levels. The kidneys are then forced to manage an excessive load of a substance they are not prepared to handle at that concentration, which can induce acute toxicity and damage the already vulnerable renal structure.
