Overview
People use Rauvolfia vomitoria for convulsions, fever, weakness, inability to sleep, mental disorders, pain, arthritis, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and health of the stomach, intestines, and liver. It is also used to promote sleepiness and vomiting.
Rauvolfia vomitoria is applied to the skin for snake bites, skin infections, and swelling.
It is placed in the rectum for worms in the intestine and for menstrual pains.
In western countries such as the U.S. and Canada, Rauvolfia vomitoria is used in some workoutsupplements. Countries including Canada and others have banned supplements containing Rauvolfia vomitoria extract from the market. This is because some Rauvolfia vomitoria extracts contain high levels of chemicals that are prescription drugs.
How does it work ?
Uses & Effectiveness ?
Insufficient Evidence for
- Diabetes. Early research shows that drinking a beverage made from the leaves and stems of Rauvolfia vomitoria and the fruit of bitter orange helps reduce levels of blood sugar following a meal in some people with diabetes. But it doesn't seem to improve fasting or average blood sugar.
- Psychosis. Early research shows that taking Rauvolfia vomitoria root powder daily for 6 weeks improves symptoms of psychosis in some people. But it also seems to cause shakiness, jerky movements, or slower movements in some people. These side effects are similar to those of medications for mental conditions (antipsychotic drugs).
- Arthritis.
- Cancer.
- Convulsions.
- Fever.
- High blood pressure.
- Inability to sleep and to promote sleepiness.
- Liver health.
- Mental health.
- Pain.
- Skin infections.
- Snake bites.
- Stomach and intestinal disorders.
- Weakness.
- Other uses.
Side Effects
Special Precautions and Warnings
Breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking Rauvolfia vomitoria if you are breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Anxiety: Rauvolfia vomitoria contains a chemical that might make anxiety worse. Use Rauvolfia vomitoria with caution in people with anxiety.
Depression: Rauvolfia vomitoria contains a chemical that might make depression worse. But some early research shows that Rauvolfia vomitoria does not cause or worsen depression. Until more is known, use Rauvolfia vomitoria with caution in people with depression.
Diabetes: Rauvolfia vomitoria might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use Rauvolfia vomitoria.
Shock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy, ECT): Rauvolfia vomitoria should not be used by people who are receiving ECT. Stop taking Rauvolfia vomitoria at least one week before beginning ECT.
Gall stones: Rauvolfia vomitoria might make gallbladder disease worse.
Stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, or ulcerative colitis: Don't use Rauvolfia vomitoria if you have ever had one of these conditions.
Allergy to reserpine or similar medicines known as rauwolfia alkaloids: Don't take Rauvolfia vomitoria if you are allergic to these medicines.
Low blood pressure: Don't use Rauvolfia vomitoria if you have low blood pressure. Rauvolfia vomitoria might lower blood pressure even further and cause very low levels.
A tumor in the adrenal glands that causes dangerously high blood pressure (pheochromocytoma): Don't use Rauvolfia vomitoria if you have this condition.
Surgery: Rauvolfia vomitoria might affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using Rauvolfia vomitoria at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions ?
Levodopa interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Levodopa is used for Parkinson's disease. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with levodopa might decrease the effectiveness of levodopa. It is not clear why this interaction might occur. To be on the safe side, do not take Rauvolfia vomitoria if you are taking levodopa.
Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Rauvolfia vomitoria contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical might increase the side effects of some medications used for depression.
Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Rauvolfia vomitoria seems to have a calming effect. Medications for mental conditions also help calm you down. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with some medications for mental conditions might increase the risk of side effects of medications for mental conditions.
Some of these medications include chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine (Clozaril), fluphenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine (Mellaril), thiothixene (Navane), and others.Propranolol (Inderal) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Propranolol (Inderal) is used to decrease blood pressure. Rauvolfia vomitoria might also reduce blood pressure. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with propranolol (Inderal) might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Stimulant drugs interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Rauvolfia vomitoria might also speed up the nervous system. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with Rauvolfia vomitoria.
Some stimulant drugs include diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and many others.
Major Interaction
Do not take this combination
Alcohol interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Alcohol can cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Rauvolfia vomitoria might also cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Taking large amounts of Rauvolfia vomitoria along with alcohol might cause too much sleepiness.
Digoxin (Lanoxin) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Digoxin (Lanoxin) helps the heart beat more strongly. Rauvolfia vomitoria might slow the heartbeat. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with digoxin might decrease the effectiveness of digoxin. Do not take Rauvolfia vomitoria if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin).
Ephedrine interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Ephedrine can speed up the nervous system and make you feel jittery. Rauvolfia vomitoria might calm you down and make you sleepy. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with ephedrine might decrease the effects of ephedrine.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Rauvolfia vomitoria might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Rauvolfia vomitoria talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), dextromethorphan, donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel), and others.Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Rauvolfia vomitoria might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Rauvolfia vomitoria might lower blood pressure. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with some medications for high blood pressure might lower blood pressure too much.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Rauvolfia vomitoria might slow blood clotting. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.Medications used for depression (Tricyclic antidepressants) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Taking some medications used for depression might decrease the effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria.
Some of these medicines used for depression include amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others.Sedative medications (Barbiturates) interacts with RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA
Rauvolfia vomitoria might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Dosing
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