Dandelion (Taraxacum officinal)

Taraxacum officinale, or the common dandelion, is a plant. The above ground parts of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are used as natural herbal supplements and for many conditions, including pain management, reducing swelling, and increasing urine production. There is little evidence that it is effective for any condition.

Taraxacum officinale contains chemicals that may increase urine production and decrease pain and swelling. Check with your health care professional before using herbs or herbal supplements.

• While Taraxacum officinale is used as an herbal supplement, it may still cause drug interactions with other drugs or supplements. Always seek your doctor's advice before taking Taraxacum officinale or any other drug or supplement.
• Do no administer to children under the age of 18 because its safety has not been established in children.

Side effects of Taraxacum officinale include:

• abdominal discomfort,
• diarrhea,
• heartburn,
• increased heart rate,
• bruising and bleeding,
• excessive urination, and
• increased potassium levels (hyperkalemia).

• There is no established dosing. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for each product.
• Safe and effective use of Taraxacum officinale supplement is not established for individuals under the age of 18.

• Taraxacum officinale should be used with caution with quinolone antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and moxifloxacin (Avelox) because it may reduce the absorption of these antibiotics and may decrease their effectiveness. Check with your doctor before using this herbal product.
• Taraxacum officinale may reduce the breakdown of some drugs by the liver, increasing blood levels of these drugs. Some examples include propranolol (Inderal), amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), and ondansetron (Zofran).
• Taraxacum officinale contains potassium. If combined with potassium sparring diuretics (water pills) such as spironolactone (Alkdactone) there may be significant increases in blood potassium levels.
• Taraxacum officinale may increase urine production, so it may affect how lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) may be removed from the body. Increased urine production can slow down lithium removal from the body, leading to increased lithium levels. Adjustments in lithium dose may be required.
• Taraxacum officinale may slow down blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, Taraxacum officinale should be used with caution with medications like aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel (Plavix), enoxaparin (Lovenox), diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen (Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

• It is not known if Taraxacum officinale is safe to use in pregnant women. Consult with your doctor before taking Taraxacum officinale if you are pregnant.
• It is not known whether Taraxacum officinale enters breast milk. It should be avoided by nursing mothers to avoid harm to the newborn.

What preparations of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are available?

• Taraxacum officinale is available as capsules, liquid extract, and tea forms. Concentration of Taraxacum officinale may vary from product-to-product due to multiple manufacturers producing various products. Products that contain Taraxacum officinale also contain other herbs.

How should I keep dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) stored?

• Due to multiple manufacturers making different forms of Taraxacum officinale, storage requirements may vary based on individual manufacturer practices.