ArginMax is a dietary supplement that manufacturers say supports female sexual fitness. This supplement also serves as a multivitamin that provides the recommended daily value of 14 vitamins and minerals. Check with your doctor before trying ArginMax because some of the herbal ingredients can produce side effects and interact with medications.
Arginine Side Effects
This supplement features the amino acid L-arginine, which is a chemical precursor in your body to nitric oxide. This makes it a vasodilator, or blood vessel-widening agent. Arginine can raise your risk for post heart-attack death. If you are a heart disease patient it may cause a high white blood cell count, vertigo and a lack of strength and energy. If you are a postmenopausal woman it may cause night sweats and flushing. Supplemental arginine also may cause headaches, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, rashes, hives and other allergic reactions, increased inflammatory response in your body, lower back pain, restless legs, systemic acidosis, gastrointestinal discomfort and endocrine changes. This supplement raises risk for hypokalemia if you have impaired kidney function, if you are diabetic or take medicines like potassium-sparing diuretics that raise risk for high blood levels of potassium. It also interacts with blood-thinning medicine, diabetes medicines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. It is dangerous to use with blood pressure-lowering agents and nitrates. Arginine also may worsen your condition if you have herpes, immunological disorders, acrocyanosis, sickle cell anemia, hyperchloremic acidosis, asthma or breast cancer. Do not use it if pregnant, advise the experts at MayoClinic.com.
Ginseng Effects
ArginMax for Women contains Korean ginseng. Ginseng can cause sleep problems, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and allergic reactions. It also may lower blood-sugar levels, so seek medical monitoring if you take diabetes medicine. Ginseng may raise risk for bleeding or bruising when taken with anticoagulants. Using it with some drugs like selegiline can worsen depression and trigger insomnia and headaches. Taking it with albendazole reduces the effectiveness of this drug. Using it with nifedipine increases levels of this drug in your body to possibly harmful levels. It also can have estrogen-like effects in your body, so avoid it if you have a hormone-sensitive condition like breast cancer.
Ginkgo Biloba Effects
The ginkgo biloba in ArginMax also may cause gastrointestinal upset as well as skin reactions, headaches and dizziness. Consult a doctor before using ginkgo with blood-thinning medicine, and don’t use it within 36 hours of surgery or dental work. Avoid it if you are pregnant. Do not take ginkgo if you have epilepsy because it may cause seizures, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Damiana Effects
ArginMax for Women also contains damiana. This herb can cause allergic reactions, but they are rare, according to Drugs.com. It is dangerous to use this herb if you have a history of breast cancer, psychiatric disorder, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's disease. Also seek medical monitoring if you take diabetes medicines. Avoid this herb if you are pregnant, according to Drugs.com.
References
- ArginMax.com; ArginMax for Women Ingredients
- MayoClinic.com; Arginine Background; August 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Arginine Safety; August 2011
- National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine; Asian Ginseng; July 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Ginkgo Biloba; March 2009
- Drugs.com; Damiana; September 2011
- “The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide”; George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox; 2007
