Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this
medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results. |
Pleurisy root*
|
Check: Other—Before taking any of these supplements or eating any of
these foods with your medication, read this article in full for details. |
DHEA
Grapefruit juice
|
| Depletion or interference |
None known
|
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known
|
| Supportive interaction |
None known
|
| Reduced drug
absorption/bioavailability |
None known
|
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 Dietary 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
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
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.
Food
Amlodipine may be taken with or without food.4
References:1. 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.
2. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide
for Health-Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 213–4.
3. 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.
4. 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.