Passion Flower - Elavil (Amitriptyline) Interaction
Herbal: Passion Flower
Also Known As: Passiflora incarnata, Apricot Vine, Burucuya, Granadilla, Grandilla, Maracuja, Maracuya, Maypop, Pasiflora, Pasionari, Pasionaria, Passiflora, Passiflore, Passiflorina, Passion Vine, Passionaria, Passionblume, Passionflower, Passionflower Herb, Passionsblomma, Water Lemon
Drug: Amitriptyline
Brand names:
Elavil
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
Apr 20, 2025
Interaction Details
Amitriptyline is classified as belonging to the following category: Cns Depressants
Concomitant use of passion flower with sedative drugs might cause additive effects and side effects.
Research in animals and humans shows that passion flower has sedative effects which can be additive when used with sedative medications like lorazepam.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Pharmacist Analysis
While the combination of Elavil and Passionflower may cause additive sedative effects, as discussed in the section above, there are no known major interactions between the two.
Passionflower does not affect the metabolism of Elavil, nor does it affect neurotransmitters in the brain that are targeted by this medication.
It is important to be aware of the potential of the additive sedative effects, but otherwise, Passionflower and amitriptyline are considered safe to combine.
- Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmDReferences
- Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Shayeganpour A, et al. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther 2001;26:363-7.
- Speroni E., Minghetti A. Neuropharmacological activity of extracts from Passiflora incarnata. Planta Med. 1988;54:488-91.
- Capasso A., Sorrentino L. Pharmacological studies on the sedative and hypnotic effect of Kava kava and Passiflora extracts combination. Phytomedicine. 2005;12:39-45.
- Carrasco MC, Vallejo JR, Pardo-de-Santayana M, et al. Interactions of Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L. in a patient treated with lorazepam. Phytother Res. 2009 Dec;23:1795-6.
- Soulimani, R., Younos, C., Jarmouni, S., Bousta, D., Misslin, R., and Mortier, F. Behavioural effects of Passiflora incarnata L. and its indole alkaloid and flavonoid derivatives and maltol in the mouse. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997;57(1):11-20.
- da Cunha RS, Amorim KS, Gercina AC, et al. Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial. Clin Oral Investig. 2020.
Interaction Details
Amitriptyline is classified as belonging to the following category: Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates
Theoretically, passion flower might decrease the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research suggests that passion flower can induce CYP3A4 enzymes, albeit to a much lower degree than rifampin, a known CYP3A4 inducer.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Pharmacist Analysis
While the combination of Elavil and Passionflower may cause additive sedative effects, as discussed in the section above, there are no known major interactions between the two.
Passionflower does not affect the metabolism of Elavil, nor does it affect neurotransmitters in the brain that are targeted by this medication.
It is important to be aware of the potential of the additive sedative effects, but otherwise, Passionflower and amitriptyline are considered safe to combine.
- Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmDReferences
- Mazzari ALDA, Lacerda MG, Milton FA, et al. In vitro effects of European and Latin-American medicinal plants in CYP3A4 gene expression, glutathione levels, and P-glycoprotein activity. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:826395.
Passion Flower Overview
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a climbing vine with fragrant white and purple flowers that is native to the Americas.
It is purported to have a number of potential health benefits, including reducing anxiety and improving sleep. It is thought to work by increasing the levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate mood and anxiety. Passionflower may also have mild sedative and muscle-relaxing effects and may be helpful in the treatment of muscle spasms and other muscle disorders.
Dietary supplements containing passionflower are generally standardized to contain no less than 1.5% of the flavanoid vitexin.
Amitriptyline Overview
-
Amitriptyline is used to treat symptoms of depression. Amitriptyline is in a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain that are needed to maintain mental balance.
Passion Flower - More Interactions
Passion Flower interacts with 814 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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