Ginger: Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings (2024)

• Uses
  • What Is Ginger and How Does It Work?
• Dosage
  • What are Dosages of Ginger?
• Side Effects
  • What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ginger?
• Drug Interactions
  • What Other Drugs Interact with Ginger?
• Warnings and Precautions
  • What Are Warnings and Precautions for Ginger?

What Is Ginger and How Does It Work?

Ginger is an herbal supplement, which can be used as a natural remedy in treatment of antiemetic, carminative, stimulant and also as an anti-inflammatory. It can be effective in treatment of dyspepsia, migraine headache, morning sickness, nausea (chemo induced), post-operative nausea and/or vomiting, osteoarthritis, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis and for SSRI taper/discontinuation.

• Demonstrated antiemetic efficacy in pregnancy, postoperative nausea and vomiting and vertigo. It is possibly ineffective for motion sickness.
• Insufficient reliable data to rate use in chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, migraine headache, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Ginger is available under the following different brand names: African ginger, black ginger, cochin ginger, Imber, Jamaica ginger, race ginger, rhizoma zingerberis, rhizome, sheng jiang, Shokyo, zingibain, Zingiber officinale, and Zingiberis.

What are Dosages of Ginger?

Dosages of Ginger Should Be Given As Follows:

• Dosages vary between 250 mg – 1 g.

Dosage Considerations

Migraine Headache

• 500 mg by mouth every 4 hours as need, no more than 1.5-2 grams per day.

Morning Sickness

• 250 mg by mouth 4 times daily or 500 mg by mouth 2 times daily.

Nausea or vomiting in Pregnancy

• 250 mg powder by mouth 4 times daily, may take up to 6 grams per day.

Motion Sickness (Powdered Root)

• 1 g by mouth 30 minutes-4 hours before travel.

Nausea, Chemo-induced (Powdered Root)

• 1-4 grams per day by mouth, no more than 4 grams per day.

Osteoarthritis (Extract)

• 170 mg by mouth 3 times daily or
• 255 mg by mouth 2 times daily, no more than 4 grams per day.

SSRI Taper/Discontinuation

• 550-1100 mg by mouth 3 times daily; no more than 4 grams per day.

What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ginger?

Side effects of ginger include:

• increased bleeding tendency
• abdominal discomfort
• cardiac arrhythmias (if overdosed)
• central nervous system depression (if overdosed)
• dermatitis (with topical use)
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• mouth or throat irritation.

What Other Drugs Interact with Ginger?

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Ginger has mild interactions with at least 73 different drugs.
• Ginger has mild interactions with the following 13 different drugs:
  • abciximab
  • anagrelide
  • anamu
  • cilostazol
  • clopidogrel
  • danshen
  • devil's claw
  • dipyridamole
  • eptifibatide
  • green tea
  • prasugrel
  • ticlopidine
  • tirofiban

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

What Are Warnings and Precautions for Ginger?

Warnings

• Ginger may cause hypersensitivity and gallbladder disease.
• This medication contains ginger. Do not take African ginger, black ginger, cochin ginger, imber, Jamaica ginger, race ginger, rhizoma zingerberis, rhizome, sheng jiang, shokyo, zingibain, zingiber officinale, or zingiberis, if you are allergic to ginger or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

Do not use if you have a hypersensitivity or gallbladder disease.

Effects of Drug Abuse

There are no effects of drug abuse associated with the use of ginger.

Short-Term Effects

There are no short-term effects associated with the use of ginger.

Long-Term Effects

There are no long-term effects associated with the use of ginger.

Cautions

If you have any bleeding disorder, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure (hypertension), or low blood pressure (hypotension), consult with your physician.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Use in pregnancy is not recommended by German Commission E, however, current data indicates ginger is safe if used at usual therapeutic doses.