Health News

7 drugs that you should never mix with hibiscus tea

Main to remember

  • Hibiscus tea can interact with certain drugs, which makes them less effective or leading to serious side effects.
  • People with certain health problems or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid hibiscus tea.
  • He is otherwise sure for most people.

Hibiscus tea is a beloved fruity and floral flower drink in Latin America and Africa. He has gained popularity worldwide due to his various health benefits. However, hibiscus tea can have serious interactions with certain drugs.

1. Ace inhibitors

Inhibitory drugs of the angiotensin conversion enzyme (ACE) are used to treat high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes. Like ACE inhibitors, hibiscus tea can also lower blood pressure by slowing the production of angiotensin II hormone. The result of taking the two at the same time is that you could feel blood pressure that drops too low.

It is not recommended to drink hibiscus tea or take hibiscus supplements while using ECA inhibitors such as:

  • Acc accordable (quinapril)
  • Aceon (Perindopril)
  • Altace (Ramipril)
  • Calots (captopril)
  • Lotensin (Benazepril)
  • MAVIK (TRANDOLAPPRIL)
  • Monopril (Fosinopril)
  • Vasotec (Éalapril)
  • Zestril (Lisinopril)

2. Cozaar (Losartan)

Cozaar (Losartan) is another medication hypotested by the blood pressure with which hibiscus tea interacts. It is a medication against angiotensin receptors (ARB) which operates slightly differently from ECA inhibitors by blocking angiotensin II receptors. However, this leads to the same result: lower blood pressure.

Because hibiscus also affects angiotensin II, the result is the same: the potential for dropping drastic blood pressure.

Talk to your health professional if you plan to drink hibiscus tea and take cozaar or other drugs for blood pressure.

3. Anti-diabetic drugs

Avoid drinking hibiscus tea if you suffer from diabetes and take medication to treat it. Diabetes drugs lower blood sugar and hibiscus tea can also lower blood sugar. Drinking could lead to a dangerous drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Hypoglycemia symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Quick heart rate
  • Feel weak or weak
  • Feel trembling
  • Headache
  • Nausea

Talk to your health care provider to see if you should avoid hibiscus tea, change your drug assay or monitor your blood sugar more closely.

4. Chloroquine

Chloroquine is prescribed to treat malaria (an infection transmitted by mosquitoes) and Amebiase (an intestinal infection caused by a parasite). Hibiscus tea can have serious interactions with chloroquine and should not be taken simultaneously.

Hibiscus tea can prevent your body from absorbing chloroquine well, which makes it less effective and potentially worsen the serious infections prescribed to it.

5. Zocor (Simvastatin)

Zocor (simvastatin) is a medication prescribed downwards cholesterol. Drinking hibiscus tea can accelerate the elimination of simvastatin by your body, which considerably reduces your exposure to medication. This can make the drug less effective and potentially lead to side effects.

Until more research on this herb-drug interaction is available, experts discourage hibiscus tea alongside simvastatin.

6. Tylenol (acetaminophen)

The hibiscus can also interact with tylenol (acetaminophen), an ancillary an enhancement common common.

Hibiscus consumption can ensure that your body eliminates tylenol faster, which means that you will not get as much pain relief as long. To avoid this interaction, take tylenol at least three to four hours before drinking hibiscus tea, but confirm it with your health care provider.

7. Hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic drug used to treat high blood pressure and / or edema (liquid retention) caused by health problems such as heart, liver or kidney disease.

Consumption of hibiscus tea alongside hydrochlorothiazide can make your body less effective in eliminating the drug. This could potentially lead to serious side effects because the drug is not eliminated correctly and accumulates in the body.

Animal studies suggest that taking hibiscus at the same time as hydrochlorothiazide can pee you more, increasing the risk of dehydration.

Due to this interaction, it is recommended to avoid hibiscus tea if you take hydrochlorothiazide.

Who else should avoid hibiscus tea?

People who take the above drugs should avoid drinking hibiscus tea or discuss it with their health care provider first. Anyone in the following situations should also reconsider tea with hibiscus:

  • Low blood pressure: If you have a preexisting low blood pressure, drinking hibiscus tea could lower it more, which causes symptoms.
  • Diabetes: Likewise, if you suffer from diabetes, plan to avoid hibiscus tea as it can cause unexpected blood sugar.
  • Pregnancy: Avoid hibiscus tea if you are pregnant. The hibiscus contains phytoestrogens and can affect your hormones, certain animal studies showing changes in menstruation and the delay of puberty, which indicates that it may not be sure during pregnancy.
  • Breast-feeding: Likewise, there is not enough evidence to know if hibiscus tea is safe during breastfeeding. Due to its potential impact on hormones, it may not be sure.

Hibiscus side effects

Hibiscus has few side effects, and research has found safety for most people, except the drugs and the precautions mentioned above.

Some people report an upset stomach or bloating after drinking hibiscus tea, but it’s rare.

Very well health uses only high -quality sources, including studies evaluated by peers, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to find out more about how we check the facts and keep our content precise, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Ellis LR, Zulfiqar S, Holmes M, et al. A systematic review and a meta-analysis of the effects of Hibiscus Sabdariffa On blood pressure and cardiometabolic markers. Nutritional journals. 2022; 80 (6): 1723-1737. Two: 10.1093 / NUTRIT / NUAB104

  2. Nurfaradilla SA, Saputri FC, Harahap Y. Herb-Drug pharmacokinetic interaction between Hibiscus Sabdariffa Calicy and captopril aqueous extract from the rat. Complementary and alternative medicine based on evidence. 2020; 2020 (1): 5013898. Doi: 10.1155 / 2020/5013898

  3. AHAD A, RAISH M, Bin Jardan Ya, et al. Effect of Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Zingiber Officinale on antihypertense and pharmacokinetics of losartan in hypertensive rats. Xenobiotica. 2020; 50 (7): 847-857. DOI: 10.1080 / 00498254.2020.1729446

  4. National renal foundation. ECA inhibitors and ARB.

  5. Jamrozik D, Borymska W, Kaczmarczyk-żebrowska I. Hibiscus sabdariffa in the prevention and treatment of diabetes-does it work? A review based on evidence. Food. 2022; 11 (14): 2134. Doi: 10.3390 / food11142134

  6. American Diabetes Association. Signs, symptoms and treatment of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

  7. MEDLINEPLUS. Chloroquine.

  8. Nurfaradilla SA, Saputri FC, Harahap Y. Pharmacokinetic interaction of herbs between the hisccus aqueous extract Sabdariffa Calicy and captopril in rats. Complementary and alternative medicine based on evidence: ECAM. 2020; 2020: 5013898. Doi: 10.1155 / 2020/5013898

  9. Showande SJ, Adegbolagun OM, Igbinoba Si, et al. In vivo in vivo interlient pharmacodynamics and pharmaceticals of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Calicy extracted with simvastatin. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2017; 42 (6): 695-703. Two: 10.1111 / JCPT.12629

  10. Hopkins Al, Lamm MG, Funk JL, et al. Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia: a complete review of animal and human studies. Phytotherapy. 2013; 85: 84-94. Two: 10.1016 / J.Fitote.2013.01.003

  11. MEDLINEPLUS. Hydrochlorothiazide.

  12. Ellis LR, Zulfiqar S, Holmes M, et al. A systematic review and a meta-analysis of the effects of the hibiscus sabdariffa on blood pressure and cardiometabolic markers. Nutritional journals. 2022; 80 (6): 1723. Two: 10.1093 / NUTRIT / NUAB104

  13. Enwerem N, Amos S, Azuine M. Hibiscus Sabdariffa L: Undernocuity and efficiency during pregnancy and lactation. Nurse newspaper and outdoor care. 2016; Volume 1 (number 4). DOI: 10.15406 / NCOAJ.2016.01.00019

  14. Montalvo-González E, Villagrán Z, González-Torres S, et al. Physiological effects and advantages for human health of Hibiscus Sabdariffa: A review of clinical trials. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022; 15 (4): 464. Doi: 10.3390 / PH15040464


By Sarah Bené, Otr / L

Bené is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental health environments. She lives with celiac disease and endometriosis.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button