Amlodipine - [Alternative Medicine]

Amlodipine

Alternative Medicine
The following information is specific for alternative and complementary medicine. For additional evidence-based information on diseases, conditions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and wellness issues, continue searching the Healthwise Knowledgebase.

Also indexed as:

Norvasc

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat angina and high blood pressure.

Herbs

Summary of Interactions for Amlodipine

Depletion or interference	None known
Adverse interaction	Pleurisy root*
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Supportive interaction	None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known
Other (see text)	DHEA Grapefruit juice Pomegranate juice*

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Supplements

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

Amlodipine has been shown to raise blood levels of DHEA-sulfate in insulin-resistant, obese men with high blood pressure.¹

Interactions with Herbs

Pleurisy root

As pleurisy root and other plants in the Aesclepius genus contain cardiac glycosides, it is best to avoid use of pleurisy root with heart medications such as calcium channel blockers.²

Other Interactions

Grapefruit juice

Ingestion of grapefruit juice has been shown to increase the absorption of felodipine (a drug similar in structure and action to that of amlodipine) and to increase the adverse effects of the medication in patients with hypertension. Until more is known, it seems that grapefruit juice should not be ingested by people taking amlodipine or similar drugs.³ The same effects might be seen from eating grapefruit as from drinking its juice.

Pomegranate juice

Pomegranate juice has been shown to inhibit the same enzyme that is inhibited by grapefruit juice.^4,⁵ The degree of inhibition is about the same for each of these juices. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect that pomegranate juice might interact with amlodipine in the same way that grapefruit juice does.

Food

Amlodipine may be taken with or without food.⁶

References

Beer NA, Jakubowicz DJ, Beer RM, Nestler JE. The calcium channel blocker amlodipine raises serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androstenedione, but lowers serum cortisol, in insulin-resistant obese and hypertensive men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993;76:1464-9.
Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 213-4.
Bailey DG, Arnold MO, Strong HA, Munoz C, Spence JD, et al. Effect of grapefruit juice and naringin on nisoldipine pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1993;54:589-94.
Sorokin AV, Duncan B, Panetta R, Thompson PD. Rhabdomyolysis associated with pomegranate juice consumption. Am J Cardiol 2006;98:705-6.
Summers KM. Potential drug-food interactions with pomegranate juice. Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:1472-3.
Faulkner JK, Hayden ML, Chasseaud LF, Taylor T. Absorption of amlodipine unaffected by food. Solid dose equivalent to solution dose. Arzneimittelforschung 1989;39:799-801.

Last Review: 09-01-2007

Please read the disclaimer about the limitations of the information provided here. Do NOT rely solely on the information in this article.

Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.

Learn more about the authors of Using Medicines with Vitamins and Herbs

The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2008.

Go to top of page

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.