TGA safety advisory about medicines containing Withania somnifera

Health professionals are advised medicines and herbal supplements containing the herb Withania somnifera may cause adverse events in some people.

This includes sudden and potentially severe gastrointestinal symptoms in some people and, in very rare cases, may be associated with liver injury.

When treating patients who are presenting with symptoms of liver injury, you should consider whether a complementary medicine could be involved.

Use of medicines or herbal supplements containing Withania somnifera should be avoided in patients with existing or previous liver pathologies.