- Uses
- What is cranberry, and what is it used for?
- Warnings
- Warnings
- Side Effects
- What are the side effects of cranberry?
- Dosage
- What are the dosages of cranberry?
- Overdose
- Overdose
- Drug Interactions
- What drugs interact with cranberry?
- What Else to Know
- What else should I know about cranberry?
- Comments
- **COMMENTSTAGLIST**
- More
- **OTHERTAGLIST**
Generic Name: cranberry
Brand and Other Names: American cranberry, black cranberry,European cranberry, low cranberry, mossberry, Oxycoccus macrocarpus, trailing swamp cranberry, Vaccinium edule, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Vaccinium occycoccus, Vaccinium vitis
Drug Class: Herbals
What is cranberry, and what is it used for?
The American cranberry, Vaccinum macrocarpon, is an evergreen shrub that grows in the swamplands of North America. Cranberry is used to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and as a urinary deodorizer for incontinent patients. Cranberry is also used for many other ailments such astype 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus), chronic fatigue syndrome, and other disorders, however, there is no reliable evidence to support these uses.
Cranberry contains compounds such as flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, and organic acids including salicylate. Cranberry is a rich source of vitamin C, useful as a dietary supplement for scurvy, a condition caused by vitamin C deficiency. Cranberry has antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cranberry may be eaten as fresh or dried fruit, drunk as juice or juice co*cktail, or taken as capsule supplements.
Urinary tract infections are most often caused by Escherichia coli bacteria, and they grow by adhering to the inner lining of the urinary tract. Cranberry prevents the growth of E. coli by preventing their adhesion to the urinary tract surface. Preliminary studies show cranberry may also prevent the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori, which causes peptic ulcers.
Cranberry does not kill bacteria and must not be used instead of antibiotics, it cannot treat an existing infection. Cranberry is useful in preventing UTIs, especially in women predisposed to recurrent UTIs, who have the risk of superinfections and antibiotic resistance with repeated antibiotic courses.
Suggested uses of cranberry include the following:
- Prevention of urinary tract infections
- Urinary deodorizing for incontinent patients
- Scurvy
- Pleurisy
- Peptic ulcers
- Type 2diabetes (diabetes mellitus)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cancer
- Urination problems (as a diuretic)
- Wounds (as an antiseptic)
- Fever
Warnings
- Do not take cranberry if you have a history of kidney stones; cranberry has high oxalate content and can increase the risk of stone formation
- Cranberry products may be sweetened; use with caution if you are diabetic
- Use with caution if you have atrophic gastritis, an inflammatory gastric condition or hypochlorhydria, a condition with low level of stomach acid
- Cranberry may cause hypersensitive reactions
- Cranberry contains salicylate; use with caution if you have aspirin allergy
- Interaction with blood thinners such as warfarin can increase the risk of bleeding; use with caution
What are the side effects of cranberry?
Common side effects of cranberry include:
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Should You Drink Cranberry Juice If You Have Diabetes?5 Benefits Of Cranberries For Skin7 Cranberry Juice Benefits: Daily Serving, Types, RecipeDoes Cranberry Juice Hydrate You?- Stomach upset
- Reflux
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain (rare)
- Headaches
- Elevation of blood glucose levels
- Kidney stone formation
- Increased risk for urinary tract cancer due to oxalate stones
This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug.
Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may also report side effects or health problems to theFDAat 1-800-FDA-1088.
What are the dosages of cranberry?
There isn’t an established standard dose of cranberry.
Suggested dosing:
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Prevention
Juice
- Cranberry juice co*cktail (26% cranberry juice): 10-16 oz/day orally
- Cranberry juice: 15 mL twice a day orally
Capsule
400 mg twice a day orally
Topical use
- Leaves are used forbruises, sprains, wounds, andburns
Urinary Deodorizer for Incontinent Patients
Cranberry juice co*cktail
- 3-6 oz/day orally
Overdose
- Cranberry overdose can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Discontinue cranberry immediately, and if symptoms persist, seek medical help or contact Poison Control.
What drugs interact with cranberry?
Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions. Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation.
- Cranberry has no known severe, serious, or moderate interactions with other drugs.
- Mild Interactions of cranberry include:
- Warfarin
The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker.
It is important to always tell your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, as well as the dosage for each, and keep a list of the information.
Check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions about the medication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- There isn’t reliable information on the safety and benefits of cranberry juice or supplements inpregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Small amounts consumed in foods may be safe, however, check with your doctor. Avoid cranberry juice and supplements.
What else should I know about cranberry?
- Cranberry is generally recognized as safe, particularly as fresh or dried fruits
- Studies show limited evidence of cranberry’s efficacy in preventing UTIs, but not its treatment
- Seek medical help for diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections
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Summary
Cranberry extract is used to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and as a urinary deodorizer for incontinent patients. Cranberry is also used for many other ailments such as diabetes type II, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other disorders. Common side effects of cranberry include stomach upset, reflux, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain (rare), headaches, elevation of blood glucose levels, kidney stone formation, and increased risk for urinary tract cancer due to oxalate stones. Avoid cranberry juice and supplements if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
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Related Disease Conditions
- Can You Flush Out a UTI With Water? Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are usually advised to drink six to eight glasses (1.5 to 2 liters) of water every day to flush the infection out of the urinary system.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. E. coli, a type of bacteria that lives in the bowel and near the anus, causes most UTIs. UTI symptoms include pain, abdominal pain, mild fever, urinary urgency, and frequency. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics.
- What Foods Are Bad for Urinary Retention? Urinary retention is a condition in which you cannot empty your bladder completely. While no direct connection exists between diet and urinary retention, certain foods may aggravate urinary retention including acidic and spicy foods, artificial sweetener and caffeinated foods.
- How Long Should a UTI Last After Antibiotics? Depending on the severity of your UTI, you may need to take a 3-day, 7-day or even 2-week course of antibiotics. Since the bacteria causing your UTI can stay in your body even after symptoms are gone, it’s important to finish your entire course of antibiotics.
- How Long Does It Take a UTI to Turn Into a Kidney Infection? Failing to treat a urinary tract infection can lead to serious health problems, including kidney infections. If you have lingering symptoms, or recurrent UTIs, it is important to see your medical provider.
- Diabetes Symptoms in Men Early symptoms of diabetes are different in men, such as low testosterone. In many cases, prediabetes that will progress to type 2 diabetes if it is not treated early.
- Peptic Ulcer Peptic or stomach ulcers are ulcers in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. Learn about symptoms, causes, diet, and treatment.
- How Do You Know If You Have E. Coli or Salmonella? E. coli and salmonella are both bacteria that can cause food poisoning. What is the difference between E. coli and salmonella?
- How Can I Treat a UTI While Pregnant Without Antibiotics? What is a UTI? Learn what other treatments aside from antibiotics can help to relieve your UTI symptoms while pregnant.
- Can You Get Rid of a UTI By Drinking Water? UTI stands for urinary tract infection and it describes when your urinary system gets infected. While the effects of drinking water to flush out or get rid of UTIs is not proven, there has been a link between drinking over 2.2 liters of water daily and a decreased risk for UTIs.
- Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Contagious? Bacteria such as E. coli or Pseudomonas can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI). The incubation period for a UTI ranges from three to eight days.
- Diabetes Symptoms in Women Diabetes symptoms in women include vagin*l itching, pain, or discharge, loss of interest or pain after having sex, polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS), and urinary tract infections or UTIs (which are more common in women. Symptoms of diabetes that are the same in women and men are excessive thirst and hunger, bad breath, and skin infections, darkening of skin in areas of body creases (acanthosis nigricans), breath odor that is fruity, sweet, or acetone, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, blurred vision, fatigue, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, wounds that heal slowly, irritability, and weight loss or gain. Complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same, for example, skin, eye, and circulation problems, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), ketoacidosis, and amputation. If diabetes is not managed a person may not survive.
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- Bladder Infection (Cystitis) Bladder infection is an infection of the bladder, usually caused by bacteria or, rarely, by Candida. Certain people, including females, the elderly, men with enlarged prostates, and those with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for bladder infection. Bladder infections are treated with antibiotics, but cranberry products and adequate hydration may help prevent bladder infections.
- Is E. coli Contagious? E. coli is an infection found worldwide. There are several subtypes of the E. coli species. E. coli spreads from person to person via contaminated food or water. Symptoms and signs of E. coli infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever. Antibiotics treat E. coli infection.
- Overactive Bladder (OAB) Overactive bladder is a sudden involuntary contraction of the muscle wall of the bladder causing urinary urgency (an immediate unstoppable need to urinate). Overactive bladder is is a form of urinary incontinence. Treatment options may include Kegel exercises, biofeedback, vagin*l weight training, pelvic floor electrical stimulation, behavioral therapy, and medications.
- Can UTI Symptoms Linger After Antibiotics? Sometimes, UTI symptoms can linger even after antibiotic therapy. Reasons for this may be that your UTI is caused by an antibiotic-resistance strain of bacteria or caused by another type of bacteria, or you may have another condition entirely that causes UTI-like symptoms.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that lasts 6 months or longer, is not improved by bed rest, and may be worsened by physical or mental activity.
- E. coli (0157:H7) Infection There are many types of E. coli (Escherichia coli). E. coli can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, or lead to sepsis. E coli O157:H7 (EHEC) causes bloody diarrhea and colitis. Complications of E. coli infection include hemorrhagic diarrhea, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. E coli O157:H7 commonly is due to eating raw or undercooked hamburgers or raw milk or dairy products.
- How Long Will You Live if You Have Bladder Cancer? The survival rate depends on the stage of cancer at diagnosis and other health issues.Overall, 70 to 90 percent of people with localized bladder cancer will live for at least five years or more. The physician calculates this with the help of survival rates. Survival rates indicate the percentage of people who live with a certain type of cancer for a specific time.
- Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) Interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome (PBS) is an inflammatory disease of the bladder that can cause ulceration and bleeding of the bladder's lining and can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis may vary among individuals and may even vary with time in the same individual.
- How Can You Tell If Your Bladder Has Dropped? The urinary bladder is a hollow organ in the pelvis that stores urine. During urination, urine leaves the bladder and exits the body through the urethra. The vagin* supports the front of the bladder in women. This wall can weaken with age or get damaged during vagin*l childbirth.
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- Urinary Incontinence in Children Urinary incontinence in children (enuresis) is twice as common in boys as in girls and may occur during the daytime or nighttime. Nighttime urinary incontinence is also called bedwetting and sleepwetting. The cause of nighttime incontinence in children is unknown. Daytime incontinence in children may be caused by an overactive bladder. Though many children overcome urinary incontinence naturally, it may be necessary to treat incontinence with medications, bladder training and moisture alarms, which wake the child when he or she begins to urinate.
- What Are 4 Types of Urinary Incontinence? What is urinary continence? Learn the four different types, what causes them, and how to treat them.
- What Neurological Disorders Cause Loss of Bladder Control? Loss of bladder control is urinary incontinence. Severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine while straining, coughing or sneezing to having a frequent sudden urge to urinate. The causes of neurologic urinary incontinence include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, brain tumor, spinal injury and heavy metal poisoning.
- Urinary Tract Infections in Children Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common in children. Symptoms and signs include fever and abdominal pain. Associated symptoms and signs include flank pain, vomiting, and blood in the urine. Treatment for a UTI involves antibiotic therapy.
- Can Urinary Incontinence Be Reversed? Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone and the severity varies depending on the age, cause, and type of urinary incontinence. Most cases of urinary incontinence can be cured or controlled with appropriate treatment.
- What Does the Beginning of a UTI Feel Like? Learn the symptoms seen in the early stages of a UTI below, which include a burning sensation during urination and pain in the lower abdomen.
- What Are the 5 Warning Signs of Bladder Cancer? The term cancer means an uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. When cancer begins in the urinary bladder, it is called bladder cancer. The urinary bladder, often simply called the bladder, is a balloon-like organ present in the lower abdomen near the pelvis.
- Enterovirulent E. coli (EEC) Enterovirulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) are strains of related bacteria that have a strong propensity to cause gastrointestinal tract infections. Examples of strains include EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli), EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli), EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli), and EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli). Symptoms may vary depending on the strain the individual contracts. Infection is spread generally through contaminated food or drink.
- What Is the Best Treatment for Urinary Tract Infection? In most cases, the best treatment for a urinary tract infection (UTI) is a course of antibiotics. Which antibiotics are prescribed depend on the type of bacteria responsible.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease Peptic ulcers are sores that develop on the inner lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small bowel (duodenum). Peptic ulcers cause symptoms like heartburn, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and other symptoms. Ulcers are treated with lifestyle modification and medications.
- What Are the Different Stages of Bladder Cancer? Bladder cancer is staged according to the TNM classification. TNM stands forT (tumor): It refers to the size of the original tumor.N (node): It describes whether cancer is present in the lymph nodes.M (metastasis): It refers to cancer spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment & Diagnosis
- What Does an Ultrasound of the Bladder and Kidneys Show?
- What Is a Kidney Ureter Bladder X-Ray Study?
- Urinary Incontinence Products for Men
- Urinary Tract Infection FAQs
- Chronic Fatigue FAQs
- Urinary Incontinence FAQs
- E. Coli Outbreaks in Potato Salad and Wading Pool
- How Can I Keep E. Coli out of My Pool?
- Does Aspirin Make Ulcers Worse?
- What Is a Lesion in the Bladder?
- Are All Tumors in the Bladder Cancerous?
- What Is the Difference Between a Bladder Infection vs. UTI?
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms
- E. coli Infection Facts
- Bladder Cancer Causes, Symptoms, and Signs
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment
- Prediabetes Symptoms and Diagnosis
Prevention & Wellness
References
https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_cranberry/drugs-condition.htm
https://reference.medscape.com/drug/american-cranberry-black-cranberry-cranberry-344568#0
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370320/
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/cranberry
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cranberry
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/1201/p2175.html
