Pycnogenol® is a medication refined from compounds in French Marine Pine bark. It is principally manufactured and sold by the company Horphag Research® and it is available as an over the counter supplement in many countries. This means drug safety agencies do not always have regulatory power over the medicine, though principally, Horphag has been championed for using strong and reputable manufacturing processes. On the other hand, the drug is still relatively new, and doesn’t have what most regulatory agencies or medical groups would suggest is fully convincing research on its efficacy, though most people taking this medicine are likely to find the incidence of Pycnogenol® side effects is low.
Pycnogenol® has been suggested as potentially useful to treat a variety of conditions. At the top of the list, it’s thought the drug may be a useful adjunct therapy in the treatment of asthma. A strong body of research is emerging that also suggests its benefits for chronic venous insufficiency.
Though less convincing, some research points to potential usefulness for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, menstrual cramping, high blood pressure or blood sugar, erectile dysfunction, or skin conditions like melasma. This is only a sampling of conditions the medicine might improve or address. One of the reasons the drug has gained so much acceptance for use is because Pycnogenol® side effects tend to be minimal.
Minimal side effects still do exist and particular caution must be taken if people have specific medical conditions or are using certain types of medicines. The average person not taking other medicines with no complicated illnesses may only encounter a few adverse effects, or possibly none, and sometimes these resolve over time. The most commonly cited Pycnogenol® side effects include bad taste in the mouth, stomach problems or nausea, headache, and dizzy sensations. Other drugs should be considered if these side effects persist.
It is more important when considering Pycnogenol® side effects to understand that the compound may interact with certain diseases or other medications. It is decidedly unadvised to use this compound during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Since it may have action on lower blood pressure or blood sugar, these levels should be monitored if the drug is in use with other treatments. For some types of autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis and lupus, the drug is not advised because it may exacerbate immune response.
There are a wide number of Pycnogenol® side effects associated with medicine interaction. It’s advised that people don’t use this compound if they take ACE inhibitors, blood sugar medications, blood thinners like aspirin or warfarin, many steroids, or cyclosporine. If a person takes medications and wants to try Pycnogenol® medical guidance is advised first. Anyone interested in an over the counter supplement is best served by viewing that supplement as just as potent as anything that must be prescribed, with its own unique group of adverse effects and possible interactions.