The information offered on this page is obtained from other internet sites.

It is not edited or evaluated. 

This is because the authors of this site are not healthcare professionals. The information should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. It is important for an individual to be under the routine care of a physician and to follow the directions of qualified healthcare professionals.

Because of our lack of medical or scientific expertise, we offer these excerpts unedited and labeled merely as "Excerpt 1", "Excerpt 2" etc. Their purpose is to inform the reader that these issues have been raised so that the reader to make research matter further if they so wish. 

Please note that it is not wholly clear if these excerpts refer to Aloe Vera latex or gel, or both. As stated elsewhere on this site, the two substances are very different. Excerpt 4 refers to "Aloe Vera tablets" but does not specify the content or dose.

 
Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use aloe vera without first talking to your doctor:

Medications for diabetes -- The combination of aloe vera and glyburide, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, may help control blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. People with diabetes who use aloe latex either alone or in combination with other medications must be monitored closely by their doctor to make sure blood sugar levels don't fall too low (a condition called hypoglycemia).
Hydrocortisone -- Aloe gel may enhance the ability of hydrocortisone to reduce swelling.
Digoxin and diuretics -- Because taking oral aloe can decrease levels of potassium in the body, aloe latex should not be used by people taking diuretics (water pills) or digoxin (a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythms and congestive heart failure). These drugs also lower potassium levels in the body, so a combination of aloe and digoxin or diuretics could cause potassium levels to fall too low.

EXCERPT 2 


Potential Dangers

Allergies
People with allergies to aloe or plants in the Liliaceae family (garlic, onions, tulips) should avoid using aloe. Skin rashes have been reported with long-term use of aloe gel. Aloe injections have caused severe reactions and should be avoided.

Side Effects
At recommended doses, aloe taken by mouth may cause cramping and diarrhea. Because of its laxative effects, aloe should be avoided by people with diarrhea or intestinal conditions, such as bowel obstruction. A case report exists of hepatitis in a 57-year-old female that could be linked to the ingestion of aloe compounds. The patient’s hepatitis resolved completely after she stopped taking aloe. Blood in the stool has been associated with aloe use by mouth.

Laboratory and animal studies show that aloe taken by mouth may lower blood sugar or potassium levels. Therefore, people with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease or electrolyte abnormalities should use oral aloe only under medical supervision. Using any laxative, including aloe, for more than seven days in a row may make constipation worse or cause dependency.

Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding
Taking aloe by mouth should be avoided during pregnancy, because of the possibility of causing uterine contractions. Traditionally, it is believed that oral use of aloe leaves during breast-feeding should be avoided, although there is not enough scientific information in this area.

Interactions

Interactions with drugs, supplements and other herbs have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with your health care provider or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements.

Interactions With Drugs
A survey showed 30 percent of surgical patients reported using aloe as an herbal medicine within 2 years before surgery. Awareness of the increasing use of herbals is important to prevent, recognize, and treat potential health problems that may arise due to interactions. Surgeons need to be aware of the use of herbal medication in their patients to prevent possible harmful effects and perioperative complications.
Taking aloe by mouth should be avoided by people taking oral drugs for diabetes or using insulin. Aloe should be used cautiously by people taking thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide; oral corticosteroids; or digoxin (Lanoxin). Taking aloe latex by mouth at the same time as laxatives may increase diarrhea, dehydration or electrolyte imbalances in the blood. When taken by mouth, aloe gel may interfere with the absorption of other drugs.

Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements
When taken by mouth, aloe may increase the laxative properties of agents such as senna and may cause diarrhea. Aloe may also add to the effects of herbs that lower blood sugar levels, such as bitter melon (Momordica charantia). Aloe latex may increase the potassium-lowering effects of other herbs such as licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

Aloe taken orally may cause blood sugar levels to become too low, especially if combined with blood sugar medications.

Aloe appeared to interact with the general anesthetic sevoflurane in one report.

A preliminary study involving 18 people found that aloe vera increased the absorption of vitamins C and E.


EXCERPT 3 


Adverse reactions:
 
Gastrointestinal: damage to intestinal mucosa, which may be irreversible, painful intestinal spasms, severe hemorrhagic diarrhea Genitourinary: kidney damage, reddish urine (with frequent use)
Hematologic: accumulation of blood in pelvic region (with large doses) Metabolic: fluid and electrolyte loss from frequent use, hypokalemia
Skin: contact dermatitis, delayed wound healing because of reduced oxygen permeability (topical forms)
Other: spontaneous abortion or premature birth (during the third trimester of pregnancy)

Interactions: Avoid internal use of aloe with antiarrhythmics, cardiac glycosides, loop diuretics, other potassium-wasting drugs, corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics. The effects of these drugs will be increased when aloe is used internally.

Contraindications and precautions: External aloe preparations are contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to aloe or in those with a history of allergic reactions to plants in the Liliaceae family (garlic, onions, and tulips). Internal use also is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to aloe as well as in pregnant or breast-feeding patients, during menstruation, in children, and in patients with renal or cardiac disease (because of the potential for hypokalemia and, possibly, disturbance of cardiac rhythm).

EXCERPT 4


A recent journal article on a possible reaction after taking Aloe Vera tablets

Possible Interaction Between Sevoflurane and Aloe vera

Anna Lee, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China ; Po Tong Chui, FANZCA Consultant Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital; Cindy ST Aun, MD Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital; Tony Gin, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital; Angel SC Lau, BSN (Hons)Research Nurse, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with massive intraoperative bleeding after oral consumption of Aloe vera tablets.

CASE SUMMARY: A 35-year-old woman lost 5 L of blood during surgery as a result of a possible herb–drug interaction between Aloe vera and sevoflurane.

DISCUSSION: Aloe vera is a common herb used for antiinflammatory and antiarthritic activity, as well as antibacterial, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering effects. Compounds contained within Aloe vera can cause a reduction in prostaglandin synthesis, which may inhibit secondary aggregation of platelets. Sevoflurane inhibits thromboxane A₂ formation by suppression of cyclooxygenase activity, impairs platelet aggregation, and prolongs bleeding. Although the vascularity and size of the hemangioma were the most important factors for the massive intraoperative blood loss, concomitant use of sevoflurane and Aloe vera played a contributory role. An objective causality assessment revealed that this adverse event was possible as a result of the sevoflurane and Aloe vera interaction.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a potential herb–drug interaction between Aloe vera and sevoflurane based on the antiplatelet effects of these 2 agents. Herbal medications with antiplatelet potential should be discontinued before anesthesia and surgery.

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 38, No. 10, pp. 1651-1654.