| Serotonergic; Moderate depression | St. John's Wort: Class and Indication |
| Increases levels of serotonin | St. John's Wort: Mechanism of Action |
| Limit the effects of many prescription medications; Psychosis; Minor effects include upset stomach and sensitivity to sunlight | St. John's Wort: Side Effects |
| Do not combine with other serotonergic drugs | St. John's Wort: C/C |
| Stimulant - may worsen feelings of anxiety in some people | St. John's Wort: Nursing Implications |
| Immune function booster; used only prophylactically | Echinacea: Class and Indication |
| E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida | Echinacea: species |
| Digestive tract symptoms - nausea, stomach pain | Echinacea: Side Effects |
| Allergic reaction - children more prone; may interfere with immunosuppressants | Echinacea: C/C |
| UTI prevention; Prophylactic | Cranberry: Class and Indication |
| Proanthocyanidins interfere with bacterial adhesion to urinary tract | Cranberry: Mechanism of Action |
| May increase INR of warfarin patients | Cranberry: C/C |
| Omega-3 fatty acid; rheumatoid arthritis (maybe) | Fish Oil: Class and Indication |
| Inconclusive | Fish Oil: Mechanism of Action |
| Minor GI symptoms - belching, indigestion, diarrhea; May extend bleeding time; Can be allergenic | Fish Oil: Side Effects |
| Caution with other anticoagulants | Fish Oil: C/C |
| Evidence suggests eating seafood is better | Fish Oil: Nursing Implications |
| Fat soluble; Skeletal diseases | Vitamin D: Class and Indication |
| Regulates serum calcium by promoting mobilization of calcium from bone | Vitamin D: Mechanism of Action |
| Fatigue, weakness, dizziness | Vitamin D: Side Effects |
| Pregnancy category C | Vitamin D: C/C |
| Recommended intake varies with age | Vitamin D: Nursing Implications |
| Fat soluble; Warfarin overdose, neonatal hemorrhagic disease | Vitamin K: Class and Indication |
| Promotes liver synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and XI; Helps produce RBCs | Vitamin K: Mechanism of Action |
| Anaphylaxis-like reaction; flushing, chills, fever, dizziness, cramp-like pains | Vitamin K: Side Effects |
| Biliary tract disease, obstructive jaundice, or severe liver disease | Vitamin K: C/C |
| Decreased anticoagulant effects of warfarin | Vitamin K: Nursing Implications |
| Water soluble; Anemias, prevents neural tube defects in newborns | Vitamin B9: Class and Indication |
| Stimulates production of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets | Vitamin B9: Mechanism of Action |
| Feeling of warmth, flushing | Vitamin B9: Side Effects |
| Doses of greater than 800mcg/day increase cancer risk | Vitamin B9: C/C |
| Interacts with methotrexate, increases metabolism of some anticonvulsants | Vitamin B9: Nursing Implications |
| Water soluble; Synthesis and maintenance of collagen, maintain immune system, treat scurvy | Vitamin C: Class and Indication |
| Enhances iron absorption; required for synthesis of lipids, proteins, and steroids; aids in cellular respiration and resistance to infections | Vitamin C: Mechanism of Action |
| Nausea, vomiting, heartburn; Megadoses can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal cramps, and acidified urine | Vitamin C: Excess |
| Scurvy - gingivitis, loss of teeth, anemia, subcutaneous hemorrhage, bone lesions, delayed healing | Vitamin C: Deficiency |
| Mineral; Requirements high for growing children and pregnant or nursing women | Calcium: Class and Indication |
| Transmission of nerve impulses; Contraction of cardiac, smooth, skeletal muscles; Renal function, respiration, and blood coagulation | Calcium: Mechanism of Action |
| Cardiac irregularities, delirium, coma, serious cardiac dysrhythmias | Calcium: Excess |
| Infantile rickets, adult osteomalacia, osteoporosis | Calcium: Deficiency |
| St. John's Wort: Class and Indication | Serotonergic; Moderate depression |
| St. John's Wort: Mechanism of Action | Increases levels of serotonin |
| St. John's Wort: Side Effects | Limit the effects of many prescription medications; Psychosis; Minor effects include upset stomach and sensitivity to sunlight |
| St. John's Wort: C/C | Do not combine with other serotonergic drugs |
| St. John's Wort: Nursing Implications | Stimulant - may worsen feelings of anxiety in some people |
| Echinacea: Class and Indication | Immune function booster; used only prophylactically |
| Echinacea: species | E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida |
| Echinacea: Side Effects | Digestive tract symptoms - nausea, stomach pain |
| Echinacea: C/C | Allergic reaction - children more prone; may interfere with immunosuppressants |
| Cranberry: Class and Indication | UTI prevention; Prophylactic |
| Cranberry: Mechanism of Action | Proanthocyanidins interfere with bacterial adhesion to urinary tract |
| Cranberry: C/C | May increase INR of warfarin patients |
| Fish Oil: Class and Indication | Omega-3 fatty acid; rheumatoid arthritis (maybe) |
| Fish Oil: Mechanism of Action | Inconclusive |
| Fish Oil: Side Effects | Minor GI symptoms - belching, indigestion, diarrhea; May extend bleeding time; Can be allergenic |
| Fish Oil: C/C | Caution with other anticoagulants |
| Fish Oil: Nursing Implications | Evidence suggests eating seafood is better |
| Vitamin D: Class and Indication | Fat soluble; Skeletal diseases |
| Vitamin D: Mechanism of Action | Regulates serum calcium by promoting mobilization of calcium from bone |
| Vitamin D: Side Effects | Fatigue, weakness, dizziness |
| Vitamin D: C/C | Pregnancy category C |
| Vitamin D: Nursing Implications | Recommended intake varies with age |
| Vitamin K: Class and Indication | Fat soluble; Warfarin overdose, neonatal hemorrhagic disease |
| Vitamin K: Mechanism of Action | Promotes liver synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and XI; Helps produce RBCs |
| Vitamin K: Side Effects | Anaphylaxis-like reaction; flushing, chills, fever, dizziness, cramp-like pains |
| Vitamin K: C/C | Biliary tract disease, obstructive jaundice, or severe liver disease |
| Vitamin K: Nursing Implications | Decreased anticoagulant effects of warfarin |
| Vitamin B9: Class and Indication | Water soluble; Anemias, prevents neural tube defects in newborns |
| Vitamin B9: Mechanism of Action | Stimulates production of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets |
| Vitamin B9: Side Effects | Feeling of warmth, flushing |
| Vitamin B9: C/C | Doses of greater than 800mcg/day increase cancer risk |
| Vitamin B9: Nursing Implications | Interacts with methotrexate, increases metabolism of some anticonvulsants |
| Vitamin C: Class and Indication | Water soluble; Synthesis and maintenance of collagen, maintain immune system, treat scurvy |
| Vitamin C: Mechanism of Action | Enhances iron absorption; required for synthesis of lipids, proteins, and steroids; aids in cellular respiration and resistance to infections |
| Vitamin C: Excess | Nausea, vomiting, heartburn; Megadoses can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal cramps, and acidified urine |
| Vitamin C: Deficiency | Scurvy - gingivitis, loss of teeth, anemia, subcutaneous hemorrhage, bone lesions, delayed healing |
| Calcium: Class and Indication | Mineral; Requirements high for growing children and pregnant or nursing women |
| Calcium: Mechanism of Action | Transmission of nerve impulses; Contraction of cardiac, smooth, skeletal muscles; Renal function, respiration, and blood coagulation |
| Calcium: Excess | Cardiac irregularities, delirium, coma, serious cardiac dysrhythmias |
| Calcium: Deficiency | Infantile rickets, adult osteomalacia, osteoporosis |
