Drug & supplement interaction

Bridelia + Iloprost

Iloprost brand names: Ventavis, Aurlumyn.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Iloprost falls into 2 drug categories that Bridelia can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Animal research suggests that Bridelia extracts decrease arterial pressure.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Bridelia and Iloprost

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Bridelia interacts with whole categories of medication. Iloprost falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Bridelia in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Iloprost

Iloprost falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Bridelia interacts with.

Animal research suggests that Bridelia extracts decrease arterial pressure. Theoretically, concomitant use of Bridelia with antihypertensive drugs might have additive blood pressure lowering effects.
Some antihypertensive drugs include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction 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.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist with Bridelia and iloprost (Ventavis). Iloprost works by relaxing and widening your blood vessels to ease the high pressure in your lungs. Bridelia, in animal studies, also seems to lower blood pressure. So in theory, putting the two together could push your blood pressure down a little further than expected, possibly leaving you lightheaded, dizzy, flushed, or with a headache (effects iloprost can cause on its own).

I want to be honest about the strength here: this is a theoretical concern based on lab and animal data, not human studies, so we don't really know how much it matters in people. Still, since iloprost already drops blood pressure, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding Bridelia.

References
  1. Corallo A, Foungbe S, Davy M, Cohen Y. Cardiovascular pharmacology of aqueous extract of the leaves of Bridelia atroviridis Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in the rat. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;57(3):189-96. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 2

Iloprost also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

In animals, orally administered extracts of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark inhibit ADP/adrenaline-induced thrombosis by approximately 62%.Theoretically, Bridelia might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs.
Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to know about combining Bridelia with iloprost (Ventavis). Iloprost isn't just a vasodilator for your lung blood pressure, it also makes platelets less sticky, which means it has a mild blood-thinning effect of its own. Bridelia, based on animal studies, seems to slow clotting too. Stack those two together and you could, in theory, bruise or bleed more easily, like nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or longer bleeding from a small cut.

I want to be straight with you though: this is a theoretical concern drawn from lab and animal data, not from people. We just don't have human studies to say how big a deal it really is. Still, before you add Bridelia, run it by your doctor or pharmacist so they can keep an eye on you.

References
  1. Olajide, O. A. Investigation of the effects of selected medicinal plants on experimental thrombosis. Phytother Res 1999;13(3):231-232. DOI

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • 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.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Bridelia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bridelia has 329 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Iloprost one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bridelia

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bridelia. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Iloprost

This page covers Bridelia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Iloprost page lists 287 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 6 major · 254 moderate · 27 minor.

Open the Iloprost interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Bridelia and Iloprost Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Bridelia
Steady interest

#1,311 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Iloprost
Top half

#1,048 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Bridelia

What is Bridelia?

  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive complaints and diarrhea
  • Wound care and skin conditions
  • Antimicrobial use
  • Mouth and gum care (traditional chewing stick)

Bridelia is a group of tropical plants, with Bridelia ferruginea widely used in traditional African medicine for diabetes, infections, and digestive problems. Scientific evidence is mostly limited to laboratory and animal studies, so its benefits and safety in people are not well established. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you take other medicines or have a health condition.

Read the full Bridelia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Iloprost

What Is Iloprost Used For?

Brand names: Ventavis, Aurlumyn

Aurlumyn (iloprost injection, given intravenously) is approved to treat severe frostbite in adults, specifically to reduce the risk of losing fingers or toes (digit amputations). Its effectiveness was established in young, healthy adults who experienced frostbite at high altitudes.

See full Iloprost drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bridelia

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bridelia — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
329Moderate
0Minor
2,500No known interaction
Moderate

329 interactions

Showing 60 of 329 moderate interactions — see all 329 on the Bridelia page.

No interaction 2,500 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bridelia and Iloprost Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bridelia with Iloprost?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Bridelia and Iloprost?
Iloprost belongs to more than one drug category, and Bridelia interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Bridelia and Iloprost interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.