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Saffron Extract Side Effects & Safety

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

Safety Profile

Overall safety rating: Generally Safe

Potential Side Effects

  • Generally very well tolerated at standard doses
  • Mild nausea or appetite changes (uncommon)
  • Headache (rare)
  • Dry mouth (rare)
  • Very high doses (>200mg) may cause dizziness and drowsiness
  • Toxic at culinary-spice megadoses (>5g) — not relevant to supplement use

Drug & Supplement Interactions

  • SSRIs and other antidepressants — saffron has serotonergic activity; combining with SSRIs may increase serotonin syndrome risk (consult physician)
  • Anticoagulants — saffron has mild antiplatelet activity at very high doses
  • Blood pressure medications — saffron may mildly lower blood pressure
  • Avoid during pregnancy at supplemental doses (traditional culinary use is fine)

Maximum Dose

Do not exceed: 100mg/day of standardized extract (doses up to 200mg studied short-term without toxicity, but no additional benefit)

Full Saffron Extract Guide

References

  1. (). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Integrative Medicine. DOI
  2. (). Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a pilot double-blind randomized trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. DOI
  3. (). Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Human Psychopharmacology. DOI
  4. (). Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. DOI