Drug & supplement interaction

Hemp + Riociguat

Riociguat brand name: Adempas.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Riociguat falls into 2 drug categories that Hemp can interact with; the most serious is rated minor. Theoretically, hemp seed protein may have additive effects with antihypertensive drugs.

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

Hemp and Riociguat

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Minor

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Riociguat

Riociguat falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Hemp interacts with.

Theoretically, hemp seed protein may have additive effects with antihypertensive drugs.
In a hypertensive animal model, hemp seed protein hydrolysate reduced systolic blood pressure by a mechanism possibly involving the inhibition of renin and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities. However, there was no effect of hemp seed protein on blood pressure in normotensive animals. Furthermore, hempseed oil consumption does not seem to reduce blood pressure in humans.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

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

Here's the gist for Adempas (riociguat). This medicine already works by relaxing blood vessels to ease the high pressure in your lungs, and one of its main side effects is lowering your blood pressure too much. The theory on file is that hemp seed protein might add a small extra blood-pressure-lowering nudge on top of that.

Honestly, this is a weak, mostly theoretical concern. The effect was only seen in animals with high blood pressure, and in people hemp seed oil didn't actually lower blood pressure. Eating hemp seeds as food is very unlikely to cause trouble. If you start a concentrated hemp supplement, just watch for dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint, and check in with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Girgih AT, Alashi A, He R, Malomo S, Aluko RE. Preventive and treatment effects of a hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) meal protein hydrolysate against high blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Eur J Nutr. 2014;53(5):1237-46. PubMed
  2. Del Bo' C, Deon V, Abello F, et al. Eight-week hempseed oil intervention improves the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phospholipids and the omega-3 index, but does not affect the lipid profile in children and adolescents with primary hyperlipidemia. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Riociguat also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, hemp might decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that hemp induces CYP3A4 enzymes.
Severity Minor 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 for Adempas (riociguat). Your body partly clears this medicine using a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Some early lab research suggests hemp might speed that enzyme up a bit, which in theory could clear riociguat a little faster and make it slightly less effective. Since riociguat helps lower the high pressure in your lung arteries, a weaker effect could mean less relief of symptoms like shortness of breath or trouble exercising.

The good news: this is only a theoretical concern from test-tube studies, not real-world cases, so the rating is minor. Eating hemp seeds or hemp oil as food is very unlikely to cause a problem. Still, before starting a concentrated hemp supplement, run it by your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. 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

Hemp Also Interacts With Other Medications

Hemp has 41 moderate, 896 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Riociguat 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 Hemp

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Riociguat

This page covers Hemp only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Riociguat page lists 230 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), Grapefruit (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 6 major · 187 moderate · 37 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Riociguat page

“Riociguat (Adempas) works by relaxing the blood vessels in your lungs, which also lowers blood pressure, so I read this list of 230 supplements and herbs with real concern, and the six rated major are what to understand first. Grapefruit can push riociguat levels up and intensify its effect, while St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Riociguat interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 720 real supplement products containing Hemp, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Hemp. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Riociguat too, on top of Hemp — 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 Hemp and Riociguat 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 Hemp
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Riociguat
Steady interest

#1,715 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 Hemp

What is Hemp?

Hemp
  • Plant-based protein source
  • Heart health support
  • Skin and hair health
  • Reducing inflammation
  • General nutrition (omega fatty acids)

Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are nutritious foods rich in protein, fiber, and healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and they are generally safe for most people as part of the diet. While the nutrition is real, strong human evidence that hemp supplements treat specific medical conditions is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using hemp products for a health concern, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Read the full Hemp monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Riociguat

What Is Riociguat Used For?

Brand name: Adempas

Riociguat tablets — sold as Adempas and under the generic name Riociguat — are used to treat adults with two types of pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).

The first is chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a condition caused by blood clots in the lung arteries, either after surgery or when surgery is not an option. The second is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), where the arteries carrying blood to the lungs are narrowed or blocked. In both conditions, riociguat helps improve exercise ability and functional status, and in PAH it also helps slow the disease from getting worse.

See full Riociguat drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Hemp

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

0Major
41Moderate
896Minor
1,892No known interaction
Moderate

41 interactions

Minor

896 interactions

Showing 60 of 896 minor interactions — see all 896 on the Hemp page.

No interaction 1,892 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 Hemp and Riociguat Together: Common Questions

Can you take Hemp with Riociguat?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Hemp and Riociguat?
Riociguat belongs to more than one drug category, and Hemp 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 Hemp and Riociguat interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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.