Drug & supplement interaction

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) + Timolol

Timolol brand names: Blocadren, Timol, Timoptic.

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

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has a moderate interaction with Timolol. Theoretically, taking CLA with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.

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

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Timolol

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

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Timolol

Timolol falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) interacts with.

Theoretically, taking CLA with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research suggests that a particular form of CLA reduces systolic blood pressure. Also, some clinical research shows that CLA enhances the blood pressure-lowering effects of ramipril, an antihypertensive drug.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence A

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 short version: CLA may add to timolol's blood-pressure-lowering effect, so the two together could push your pressure or heart rate lower than timolol alone would. Timolol is a beta blocker that relaxes blood vessels and slows the heart, and some research suggests CLA can also nudge blood pressure down. That isn't a dangerous chemical clash, just a possible additive effect.

If your pressure drops too far, you might feel dizzy, lightheaded, unusually tired, or faint when standing up quickly. Honestly, the human evidence here is limited and the effect appears mild, so don't panic. Just let your pharmacist or doctor know before you start CLA, and keep an eye on home blood pressure readings. Don't change your timolol on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Nagao, K., Inoue, N., Wang, Y. M., Hirata, J., Shimada, Y., Nagao, T., Matsui, T., and Yanagita, T. The 10trans,12cis isomer of conjugated linoleic acid suppresses the development of hypertension in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats. Biochem.Biophys PubMed
  2. Zhao, W. S., Zhai, J. J., Wang, Y. H., Xie, P. S., Yin, X. J., Li, L. X., and Cheng, K. L. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation enhances antihypertensive effect of ramipril in Chinese patients with obesity-related hypertension. Am.J Hypertens. 2009;2 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

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has 288 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Timolol one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 288 No known interaction 2,542 (incl. Timolol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla). Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) or Timolol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) or Timolol, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Timolol

This page covers Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Timolol page lists 183 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).

By severity: 5 major · 151 moderate · 27 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Timolol page

“The supplement list for timolol (Blocadren, Timoptic) calls for genuine care, starting with its five major-rated entries. Timolol is a beta-blocker that slows the heart and lowers blood pressure, and even the eye-drop form absorbs enough to matter.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Timolol interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Timolol 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 Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)
Steady interest

#1,407 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Timolol
Steady interest

#1,729 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 Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)?

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)
  • Weight loss
  • Improving body composition
  • Sports and muscle support
  • Reducing inflammation
  • General wellness

CLA is a fatty acid found naturally in meat and dairy, and supplements are usually made from safflower oil. While it is popular for fat loss and body composition, research results are mixed and any real-world effect appears small at best. It is likely safe for short-term use in most healthy adults, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Read the full Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Timolol

What Is Timolol Used For?

Brand names: Blocadren, Timol, Timoptic

Timolol is available in ophthalmic (eye) forms and as an oral tablet, and each form has its own approved uses. Ophthalmic formulations — including Betimol, Istalol, Timolol GFS, Timolol hemihydrate, Timolol Maleate eye drops, and Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Gel Forming Solution — are used to lower elevated intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye) in people with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Timolol Maleate tablets are used orally for three separate conditions: treating high blood pressure (alone or combined with other blood pressure medicines), reducing the risk of death and repeat heart attack in people who have survived a heart attack and are clinically stable, and preventing migraine headaches.

See full Timolol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
288Moderate
0Minor
2,541No known interaction
288 Moderate 2,541 No interaction
Moderate

288 interactions

Showing 60 of 288 moderate interactions — see all 288 on the Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) page.

No interaction 2,541 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,541 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) list.

See the full Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Timolol, 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
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Timolol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Timolol, ranked by severity Timolol 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 Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Timolol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) with Timolol?
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 Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Timolol 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 Timolol and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)?

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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.