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Possible Mucuna pruriens side effects may include headache, pounding heartbeat, and symptoms of psychosis such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations and delusions.
A powdered preparation of velvet bean seed, called HP-200, is possibly safe for most people when taken by mouth for up to 20 weeks. The most common side effects of this preparation include nausea and a sensation of abdominal bloating while less common side effects may include vomiting, abnormal body movements and insomnia.
The hair of the Mucuna pruriens bean pod is generally considered unsafe and should not be taken orally or used topically since it is a strong irritant which can cause severe burning, itching and swelling.
There is currently a lack of information about the safety of taking velvet bean while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it’s best to be on the safe side and not use it.
Speak with your doctor before taking Mucuna pruriens, especially if you have any ongoing health concerns or are currently taking medications.
Mucuna pruriens is typically not recommended for people with any of the following:
- • Cardiovascular disease
- • Diabetes
- • Hypoglycemia
- • Liver disease
- • Melanoma
- • Mental illness
- • Peptic ulcer disease
Since velvet bean may lower blood sugar levels, you should stop taking velvet bean at least two weeks before any surgery.
In terms of possible medication interactions, the following should never be taken in combination with Mucuna pruriens:
- • Methyldopa (Aldomet)
- • Medications for depression (MAOIs) such as (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), for example.
Other drugs known to moderately interact with Mucuna pruriens include Guanethidine (Ismelin), anesthesia, antidiabetes drugs, antipsychotic drugs and tricyclic antidepressants. *