Drug & supplement interaction

Coca + Propranolol Hydrochloride

Propranolol Hydrochloride brand name: Hemangeol.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Coca has a moderate interaction with Propranolol Hydrochloride. Theoretically, coca might reduce the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Coca and Propranolol Hydrochloride

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Propranolol Hydrochloride

Propranolol Hydrochloride falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Coca interacts with.

Theoretically, coca might reduce the effects of antihypertensive drugs.
Some clinical research suggests that coca and the coca constituent cocaine have hypertensive effects. Theoretically, concomitant use of coca with antihypertensive drugs might interfere with blood pressure control and decrease the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

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 simple version: coca leaves contain cocaine, a stimulant that can raise blood pressure and speed up the heart. Propranolol works in the opposite direction, calming the heart and easing the load on blood vessels. So putting these two together is like pressing the gas and the brake at the same time, and the coca could blunt some of what propranolol is trying to do.

Keep in mind propranolol oral solution (Hemangeol) is typically prescribed for infants with hemangiomas, so coca should never be anywhere near this picture. For anyone on propranolol, this concern is mostly theoretical and based on weaker evidence, but coca is a controlled, risky plant regardless. Please don't change anything on your own; talk it through with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Favier R, Caceres E, Guillon L, et al. Coca chewing for exercise: hormonal and metabolic responses of nonhabitual chewers. J Appl Physiol 1996;81:1901-7.. PubMed
  2. Favier R, Caceres E, Sempore B, et al. Fluid regulatory hormone response to exercise after coca-induced body fluid shifts. J Appl Physiol 1997;83:376-82.. PubMed
  3. Spielvogel H, Rodriguez A, Sempore B, et al. Body fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular adjustments during submaximal exercise: influence of chewing coca leaves. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1997;75(5):400-6. PubMed
  4. Spielvogel, H., Caceres, E., Koubi, H., Sempore, B., Sauvain, M., and Favier, R. Effects of coca chewing on metabolic and hormonal changes during graded incremental exercise to maximum. J.Appl.Physiol 1996;80(2):643-649. PubMed

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

Coca Also Interacts With Other Medications

Coca has 2 major, 256 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Propranolol Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 256 No known interaction 2,572 (incl. Propranolol Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Coca

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Propranolol Hydrochloride

This page covers Coca only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Propranolol Hydrochloride page lists 236 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), Indian Snakeroot (major) and Tyramine (major).

Open the Propranolol Hydrochloride interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Coca and Propranolol Hydrochloride 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 Coca
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Propranolol Hydrochloride
Steady interest

#1,831 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 Coca

What is Coca?

Coca
  • Altitude sickness
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Appetite and hunger suppression
  • Digestive upset
  • Flavoring agent in foods and drinks

Coca is a South American plant best known as the natural source of cocaine. While the leaves have a long history of traditional use for altitude sickness, fatigue, and hunger, the whole plant contains cocaine and other alkaloids that make it legally controlled and potentially dangerous in most countries. Only decocainized (cocaine-free) coca extract is used in foods, and there is little reliable evidence to recommend coca as a supplement.

Read the full Coca monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Propranolol (Infantile Hemangioma)

What Is Propranolol (Infantile Hemangioma) Used For?

Brand name: Hemangeol

This intravenous (IV) form of propranolol is used in hospital settings to treat serious, life-threatening heart rhythm problems. It works on several types of abnormal rhythms, including those that happen during anesthesia or are caused by drug toxicity.

Specific uses include fast heart rhythms coming from the upper chambers of the heart (supraventricular tachycardia), dangerous rhythms caused by too much digitalis in the body, and certain fast rhythms triggered by excess stress hormones (catecholamines) during surgery.

See full Propranolol (Infantile Hemangioma) drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Coca

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

2Major
256Moderate
0Minor
2,571No known interaction
2 Major 256 Moderate 2,571 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

256 interactions

Showing 60 of 256 moderate interactions — see all 256 on the Coca page.

No interaction 2,571 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Coca against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,571 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Coca list.

See the full Coca interactions page
See every supplement checked against Propranolol Hydrochloride, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Coca monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Propranolol Hydrochloride supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Propranolol Hydrochloride, ranked by severity Propranolol (Infantile Hemangioma) drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Coca and Propranolol Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Coca with Propranolol Hydrochloride?
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.
How serious is the Coca and Propranolol Hydrochloride 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

Still Have a Question About Propranolol Hydrochloride and Coca?

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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.