Drug & supplement interaction

Fig + Enalapril Maleate

Enalapril Maleate brand names: Vasotec, Epaned.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Fig has a moderate interaction with Enalapril Maleate. Theoretically, fig might increase the risk of photosensitivity when used in combination with photosensitizing drugs.

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

Fig and Enalapril Maleate

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Enalapril Maleate

Enalapril Maleate falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Fig interacts with.

Theoretically, fig might increase the risk of photosensitivity when used in combination with photosensitizing drugs.
Many cases of photodermatitis from fig leaf have been reported. Some drugs that also cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), quinolones (Ciprofloxacin, others), sulfa drugs (Septra, Bactrim, others), and tetracycline.
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 thing to keep in mind with fig and your enalapril: this one is about your skin and the sun, not about how the medication is broken down. Fig leaf in particular contains plant compounds (called psoralens) that can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, and many cases of skin rash from handling or using fig leaf have been reported. Enalapril is one of several medicines that can also occasionally make your skin a little more sun-sensitive.

So in theory, using the two together could add up and make you more likely to sunburn or get a rash after time outdoors. I want to be honest though, this is a theoretical concern based on how these things work, not something proven in studies. Eating figs as food is very unlikely to matter. Just be smart with sunscreen and a hat, and check with your pharmacist before starting any concentrated fig leaf product.

References
  1. Bollero, D., Stella, M., Rivolin, A., Cassano, P., Risso, D., and Vanzetti, M. Fig leaf tanning lotion and sun-related burns: case reports. Burns 2001;27(7):777-779. PubMed
  2. Ozdamar, E., Ozbek, S., and Akin, S. An unusual cause of burn injury: fig leaf decoction used as a remedy for a dermatitis of unknown etiology. J.Burn Care Rehabil. 2003;24(4):229-233. PubMed
  3. Munteanu, M. Contact dermatitis to the sap of fig-tree. Rev.Med.Chir Soc.Med.Nat.Iasi 1989;93(3):602.
  4. Lembo, G., Lo, Presti M., and Balato, N. Phytophotodermatitis due to ficus carica. Photodermatol. 1985;2(2):119-120.
  5. Micali, G., Nasca, M. R., and Musumeci, M. L. Severe phototoxic reaction secondary to the application of a fig leaves' decoction used as a tanning agent. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(3):212-213. PubMed
  6. Pinto AR, Machado Cunha I, Rebelo Gomes E. Fig Tree-Induced Phytophotodermatitis: A Case Report on the Perils of a Hobby. Cureus 2023;15(7):e41888. 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

Fig Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fig has 409 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Enalapril Maleate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fig

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Fig or Enalapril Maleate

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

This page covers Fig only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Enalapril Maleate page lists 166 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), Asarabacca (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 6 major · 136 moderate · 24 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Enalapril Maleate page

“Potassium is the supplement I worry about first with enalapril maleate (Vasotec, Epaned). This ACE inhibitor, used for high blood pressure and heart failure, already makes the body hold onto potassium, so adding more can raise blood levels too far, a problem called hyperkalemia.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Enalapril Maleate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 189 real supplement products containing Fig, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fig. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Enalapril Maleate too, on top of Fig — 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 Fig and Enalapril Maleate 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 Fig
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Enalapril Maleate
Top 25%

#588 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 Fig

What is Fig?

  • Constipation and digestive health
  • Blood sugar support
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Skin conditions (topical sap)
  • Source of fiber and minerals

Fig (Ficus carica) is a common fruit that has long been used as a gentle food remedy for constipation, and its leaves are used traditionally for blood sugar and coughs. The fruit is a safe and nutritious food, but evidence for fig leaf supplements treating specific health conditions is limited. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated fig leaf products, especially if you have diabetes.

Read the full Fig monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Enalapril

What Is Enalapril Used For?

Brand names: Vasotec, Epaned

Enalapril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children older than one month, and to treat symptomatic heart failure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

It is also used for asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction — when the heart's pumping ability is reduced but the person doesn't yet have obvious heart failure symptoms — to slow the progression to overt heart failure and reduce hospitalizations. Enalapril maleate oral solution (including Epaned) and enalapril maleate tablets (including Vasotec) share these three approved uses.

See full Enalapril drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fig

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

0Major
409Moderate
0Minor
2,420No known interaction
Moderate

409 interactions

Showing 60 of 409 moderate interactions — see all 409 on the Fig page.

No interaction 2,420 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 Fig and Enalapril Maleate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fig with Enalapril Maleate?
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 Fig and Enalapril Maleate 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 Enalapril Maleate and Fig?

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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.