Red Clover: Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings (2024)

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

What Is Red Clover and How Does It Work?

Red clover is an herbal supplement used orally for conditions such as menopausal symptoms and hot flashes, mastalgia, premenstrual syndrome, cancer prevention, indigestion, hypercholesterolemia, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis, and sexually transmitted diseases.

• Topical use of red clover includes for cancer, skin sores, burns, sore eyes, and chronic skin diseases including eczema.
• Red clover does not significantly reduce total or LDL cholesterol, or increase HDL in women 49-65. More studies are needed.
• Red clover does not seem to reduce menopausal symptoms.
• Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
  • Red clover may decrease nocturnal urinary frequency, international prostate symptom scores, and improve the quality of life in patients with enlarged prostate (BPH). Red clover does not affect urine flow rate, PSA values, or prostate size
  • Red clover may not significantly affect breast cancer risk
  • It is not known if red clover has any effect on the risk of developing endometrial cancer. More studies are needed
  • Preliminary evidence suggests a reduction in breast pain and tenderness (mastalgia) in 45% of patients using red clover
  • More studies are needed to determine whether Red clover is effective in treating osteoporosis. 40 mg isoflavones each day did not seem to increase bone mineral density
  • Red clover is available under the following different brand names: Beebread, Cow Clover, Meadow Clover, Purple Clover, Trefle Des Pres, Trefoil, Trifolium pratense, and Wild Clover

What Are Dosages of Red Clover?

Dosages of Red Clover:

Standardized commercially prepared isoflavones

• 40-80 mg/day

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Flower Tops

• 4 g orally three times daily

Tea

• 1 cup orally three times daily; 4 g flower tops/150 ml water

Liquid Extract

• 1.5-3 ml orally three times daily; 1:1 in 25% alcohol

Tincture

• 1-2 ml orally three times daily; 1:10 in 45% alcohol

Topical

• Dosage varies

Hot Flashes

• Isoflavones extract: 40-160 mg/day orally

Cystic Mastalgia

• Isoflavones: 40-80 mg/day

Osteoporosis

• Specific extract (Promensil): 40 mg/day

What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Red Clover?

Side effects of bismuth subsalicylate include:

• estrogen-like effects (bloating, breast tenderness, irregular menstrual periods, decreased sex drive, weight gain, mood changes)
• rash
• muscle ache
• headache
• nausea
• vagin*l bleeding/spotting

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

What Other Drugs Interact with Red Clover?

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.

• Red clover has no known severe interactions with other drugs.
• Red clover has no known serious interactions with other drugs.
• Moderate interactions of red clover include:
  • phytoestrogens
• Red clover has no known mild interactions with other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. 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 this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns, or for more information about this medicine.

What Are Warnings and Precautions for Red Clover?

Warnings

This medication contains red clover. Do not take Beebread, Cow Clover, Meadow Clover, Purple Clover, Trefle Des Pres, Trefoil, Trifolium pratense, or Wild Clover if you are allergic to red clover 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

• Hypersensitivity

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Red Clover?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Red Clover?"

Cautions

• Coagulation disorders, concurrent CYP3A4 substrates

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Avoid the use of red clover during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult your physician.