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Liver failure associated with the use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms

Elizabeth C-Y Chow, Marcus Teo, John A Ring and John W Chen
Med J Aust 2009; 190 (2) || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02294.x
Published online: 19 January 2009

In reply: Teschke questions the temporal sequence in our reported case1 by raising an ambiguity in dates. We wish to clarify: when the patient first presented on 23 May 2006, lethargy, arthralgia and nausea had been present for only about 3 weeks. This was well after the dose increase in black cohosh in March 2006. As such, the dose escalation definitely preceded the patient’s symptoms and liver failure.

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  • Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA.



  • 1. Chow ECY, Teo M, Ring JA, Chen JW. Liver failure associated with the use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms. Med J Aust 2008; 188: 420-422. <MJA full text>
  • 2. Joy D, Joy J, Duane P. Black cohosh: a cause of abnormal postmenopausal liver function tests. Climacteric 2008; 11: 84-88.
  • 3. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Assessment of case reports connected to herbal medicinal products containing Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma (black cohosh, root). London: EMEA, 2007. http://www.emea.europa. eu/pdfs/human/hmpc/26925806en.pdf (accessed Oct 2008).
  • 4. Lüde S, Török M, Dieterle S, et al. Hepatic effects of Cimifuga racemosa extract in vivo and in vitro. Cell Mol Life Sci 2007; 64: 2848-2857.
  • 5. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Therapuetic Goods Administration. Required advisory statements for medicine labels. Proposed update 3.1, consultation document. Canberra: Australian Government, 2007. http://www.tga.gov.au/meds/drrasmlupd3-1.pdf (accessed Oct 2008).
  • 6. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Black cohosh. UK Public Assessment Report, 31 Jul 2006. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/es-herbal/documents/websiteresources/con2024279.pdf (accessed Oct 2008).
  • 7. Health Canada. Health Canada is advising consumers about a possible link between black cohosh and liver damage [advisory]. Ottawa: Health Canada, 2006. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2006/2006_72_e.html (accessed Sep 2006).

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