Mexican Scammony Root

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Interactions
• Dosing

Mexican scammony is a plant. Its root is used to make medicine.

People take Mexican scammony root to empty the bowels.

How does it work?

Mexican scammony root acts like a strong laxative and pushes stool through the intestines.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Emptying the bowels.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Mexican scammony root for this use.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

There isn't enough reliable information to know whether Mexican scammony root is safe. It can cause vomiting and intestinal problems.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to use Mexican scammony root if you are pregnant because it acts like a strong laxative. There isn't enough information to know whether it's safe to use during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid using Mexican scammony root if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Appendicitis, or symptoms of appendicitis such as stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting: Don't use Mexican scammony root if you have any of these conditions. Mexican scammony root can irritate the stomach and intestines, making appendicitis or symptoms of appendicitis worse.

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Digoxin (Lanoxin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Mexican scammony root is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).

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Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Mexican scammony root is a laxative. Laxatives can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs. Decreasing how much medicine your body absorbs can decrease the effectiveness of your medication.

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Stimulant laxativesInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Mexican scammony root is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking Mexican scammony root along with other stimulant laxatives could speed up the bowels too much and cause dehydration and low minerals in the body.

Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.

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Warfarin (Coumadin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Mexican scammony root can work as a laxative. In some people Mexican scammony root can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take warfarin do not to take excessive amounts of Mexican scammony root.

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Water pills (Diuretic drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Mexican scammony root is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking Mexican scammony root along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.

Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.

The appropriate dose of Mexican scammony root depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Mexican scammony root. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.