Feverfew (altamisa, bachelor button, camomille grande, chrysanthemum parthenium, featherfew, featherfoil, flirtwort midsummer daisy, midsummer daisy, Santa Maria, tanacetum parthenium): Dosing and Uses

Suggested dosing of altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew)

Migraine, Prophylaxis

Extract

• 50-100 mg PO daily

Fresh leaf

• 2.5 leaves PO daily

Freeze dried leaf

• 50-150 mg PO qD-BID

Suggested uses of altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew)

Prevention, control of migraine prophylaxis

Allergies, arthritis, fevers, headaches, menstrual irregularities, migraine prophylaxis, psoriasis, tinnitus, vertigo, cancer

Efficacy

Demonstrated effective to decr severity/frequency of migraine

Not established for rheum. arthritis, other inflammatory conditions (higher doses may be necessary)

altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew) adverse (side) effects

Frequency not defined

Abdominal pain

Allergic reaction

Diarrhea

Flatulence

Indigestion

Mouth ulcers

Nausea/vomiting

Anxiety (chronic use)

Headache (chronic use)

Insomnia (chronic use)

Muscle/joint stiffness (chronic use)

Warnings

Contraindications

Lactation, pregnancy, ragweed allergies

Hypersensitivity to Asteraceae/Compositae plants

Hypersensitivity to chrysanthemums, daisies, marigolds

Cautions

Quality of products vary widely; depends on content of parthenolide

Min. parthenolide content should be 0.2

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: unsafe

Lactation: unsafe

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

Pharmacology of altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew)

Metabolism: N/A

Excretion: N/A

Mechanism of action

Sesquiterpene lactones, incl. parthenolide: inhib. release of arachidonic acid

Inhib. platelet and leukocytes secretion of serotonin, histamine