Drug & supplement interaction

Fenugreek + Metoprolol

Metoprolol brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Metoprolol falls into 2 drug categories that Fenugreek can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fenugreek seed might have additive hypotensive effects when used with metoprolol.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Fenugreek and Metoprolol

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

METOPROLOL (Toprol)

1 of 2
Theoretically, fenugreek seed might have additive hypotensive effects when used with metoprolol.
Animal research shows that fenugreek seed 300 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 9% and 11%, respectively, when administered alone, and by 15% and 22%, respectively, when given with metoprolol 10 mg/kg.
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 gist for fenugreek and your metoprolol: both can nudge your blood pressure downward, so taking them together may have an additive effect. In plain terms, the combo could lower your blood pressure or heart rate a bit more than the metoprolol alone. If that happens, you might notice things like feeling dizzy or lightheaded (especially when standing up), unusual tiredness, or a slower pulse.

I want to be honest about the evidence here: this mostly comes from animal studies using concentrated fenugreek doses, so it's more of a theoretical concern than a proven problem. The pinch you sprinkle in cooking is very unlikely to matter. A daily fenugreek supplement is where I'd pay attention. Before adding it, check in with your pharmacist or doctor, and keep an eye on your home blood pressure readings.

References
  1. Bin Jardan YA, Ahad A, Raish M, Alam MA, Al-Mohizea AM, Al-Jenoobi FI. Effects of garden cress, fenugreek and black seed on the pharmacodynamics of metoprolol: an herb-drug interaction study in rats with hypertension. Pharm Biol 2021;59(1):1088-1097. PubMed
Minor

Antihypertensive Drugs

2 of 2

Why this applies to Metoprolol

Metoprolol falls under Antihypertensive Drugs — the group Fenugreek interacts with.

Fenugreek may also have an additive effect on blood pressure-lowering medications. Studies on animals have shown that fenugreek seed can decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by up to 22% when combined with metoprolol. Therefore, it is essential to monitor your blood pressure regularly if you are taking fenugreek and metoprolol together or any other antihypertensive drugs.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence C

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 simple version: fenugreek may gently nudge your blood pressure down on its own, and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) is already working to lower your blood pressure and slow your heart rate. Stack the two together and the effects can add up. In animal studies, that combination dropped blood pressure noticeably, so the concern is mostly an additive effect rather than fenugreek changing how your body breaks the drug down.

For you, that could mean feeling lightheaded, dizzy, unusually tired, or noticing a slower-than-usual pulse, especially when standing up quickly. The good news is this is rated a minor interaction and the evidence is limited. Food-amounts of fenugreek as a spice are unlikely to matter, but concentrated supplements might. If you want to use a fenugreek supplement, check in with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your blood pressure at home.

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

Fenugreek Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fenugreek has 223 moderate, 165 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Metoprolol 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 Fenugreek

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Fenugreek or Metoprolol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Fenugreek or Metoprolol, 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 Metoprolol

This page covers Fenugreek only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metoprolol 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 · 152 moderate · 26 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metoprolol page

“With metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), a beta-blocker for high blood pressure and heart problems, these interactions deserve genuine care, starting with the five rated major. Most entries pull blood pressure one way or the other: many supplements add to metoprolol's lowering effect and can drop pressure too far, while a few, tyramine…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metoprolol interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Fenugreek as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 2,385 real supplement products containing Fenugreek, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fenugreek. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Metoprolol too, on top of Fenugreek — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Fenugreek and Metoprolol 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 Fenugreek
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Metoprolol
Top 10

#7 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 Fenugreek

What is Fenugreek?

Fenugreek
  • Blood sugar control
  • Boosting breast milk supply
  • High cholesterol
  • Digestive upset
  • Low testosterone or libido

Fenugreek is a common kitchen spice that is also taken as a supplement, mainly for blood sugar, cholesterol, and to support breast milk production. Some early research is encouraging for blood sugar, but overall the evidence is mixed and far from settled. It is generally well tolerated as food, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it as a supplement, especially if you are pregnant.

Read the full Fenugreek monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Metoprolol

What Is Metoprolol Used For?

Brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL

Metoprolol is used to treat several heart and blood pressure conditions. Metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets (including Toprol-XL) are approved for high blood pressure, angina pectoris (chest pain from the heart), and heart failure. Metoprolol tartrate tablets (including Lopressor) are approved for high blood pressure, angina, and — when used alongside intravenous metoprolol — to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death after a definite or suspected heart attack.

Metoprolol tartrate injection (intravenous form) is used in hemodynamically stable patients with a definite or suspected acute heart attack to reduce cardiovascular death, and is followed by oral metoprolol therapy. Lowering blood pressure with metoprolol reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

See full Metoprolol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fenugreek

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

0Major
223Moderate
165Minor
2,441No known interaction
Moderate

223 interactions

Showing 60 of 223 moderate interactions — see all 223 on the Fenugreek page.

Minor

165 interactions

Showing 60 of 165 minor interactions — see all 165 on the Fenugreek page.

No interaction 2,441 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Fenugreek and Metoprolol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fenugreek with Metoprolol?
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 Fenugreek and Metoprolol?
Metoprolol belongs to more than one drug category, and Fenugreek 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 Fenugreek and Metoprolol 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 Metoprolol and Fenugreek?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.