Drug & supplement interaction

Hibiscus Sabdariffa + Fluvastatin

Fluvastatin brand names: Lescol, Lescol XL.

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

Fluvastatin falls into 2 drug categories that Hibiscus Sabdariffa can interact with; the most serious is rated minor. Theoretically, Hibiscus sabdariffa extract might reduce the metabolism of CYP2C9 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Fluvastatin

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Fluvastatin

Fluvastatin falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Hibiscus Sabdariffa interacts with.

Theoretically, Hibiscus sabdariffa extract might reduce the metabolism of CYP2C9 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract inhibits CYP2C9. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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: your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP2C9 to clear fluvastatin (Lescol) out of your system. In lab-dish testing, concentrated hibiscus extract slowed that same enzyme down a bit. If that were to happen in real life, fluvastatin could linger a little longer and build up, which in theory might nudge up the usual statin side effects like muscle aches or soreness.

The reassuring part: this is only a theoretical concern based on test-tube research, and it has never actually been reported in people. A cup or two of tart hibiscus tea is very unlikely to cause trouble. I'd be a touch more cautious with concentrated hibiscus supplements. Either way, a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor is the safest move before adding it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Johnson SS, Oyelola FT, Ari T, Juho H. In vitro inhibitory activities of the extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (family Malvaceae) on selected cytochrome P450 isoforms. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2013 Apr 12;10(3):533-40.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Fluvastatin also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, Hibiscus sabdariffa might reduce the metabolism of CYP2C8 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract inhibits CYP2C8. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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 hibiscus and fluvastatin. In a test-tube study, hibiscus extract slowed down an enzyme called CYP2C8, which is one of the pathways your body uses to clear fluvastatin. If that pathway slows, a bit more fluvastatin could linger in your system, which in theory could nudge up the chance of statin side effects like muscle aches, soreness, or stomach upset.

The reassuring part: this has only been seen in the lab, never in actual people, so the real-world risk looks small. A cup or two of tart hibiscus tea is unlikely to cause trouble, though concentrated capsules are harder to predict. If you enjoy hibiscus regularly or take a supplement form, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye out. Please don't change your fluvastatin on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Johnson SS, Oyelola FT, Ari T, Juho H. In vitro inhibitory activities of the extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (family Malvaceae) on selected cytochrome P450 isoforms. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2013 Apr 12;10(3):533-40.

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

Hibiscus Sabdariffa Also Interacts With Other Medications

Hibiscus Sabdariffa has 2 major, 266 moderate, 818 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Fluvastatin one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 266 Minor 818 No known interaction 1,744 (incl. Fluvastatin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Hibiscus Sabdariffa

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Fluvastatin

This page covers Hibiscus Sabdariffa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Fluvastatin page lists 128 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 97 moderate · 24 minor.

Open the Fluvastatin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Fluvastatin 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 Hibiscus Sabdariffa
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Fluvastatin
Top half

#949 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 Hibiscus Sabdariffa

What is Hibiscus Sabdariffa?

Hibiscus Sabdariffa
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart and cholesterol health
  • Digestive upset
  • Antioxidant support
  • Fever and general wellness

Hibiscus sabdariffa is a tart, cranberry-flavored plant most often consumed as a tea, and its best-studied use is for mildly lowering blood pressure. Evidence for other uses is limited, and while hibiscus tea is generally well tolerated in food amounts, concentrated supplements should be used cautiously and avoided in pregnancy. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it for a medical condition.

Read the full Hibiscus Sabdariffa monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Fluvastatin

What Is Fluvastatin Used For?

Brand names: Lescol, Lescol XL

Fluvastatin capsules are used alongside diet to lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B, and to raise HDL cholesterol in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) or mixed dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels). Fluvastatin capsules are also used in boys and girls aged 10–16 who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited form of high cholesterol) when diet alone has not worked. In adults with clinically evident coronary heart disease (CHD), fluvastatin capsules may reduce the risk of needing a coronary revascularization procedure (a procedure to restore blood flow, such as angioplasty) and can slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in heart arteries).

Fluvastatin sodium extended-release tablets and Lescol XL (extended-release tablet) share similar uses: reducing LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia, reducing LDL in adults and children aged 10 and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who require the highest available dose, and reducing cardiovascular risk in adults with established coronary heart disease. Fluvastatin is always used together with a cholesterol-lowering diet, not as a replacement for one.

See full Fluvastatin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Hibiscus Sabdariffa

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

2Major
266Moderate
818Minor
1,743No known interaction
2 Major 266 Moderate 818 Minor 1,743 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

266 interactions

Showing 60 of 266 moderate interactions — see all 266 on the Hibiscus Sabdariffa page.

Minor

818 interactions

Showing 60 of 818 minor interactions — see all 818 on the Hibiscus Sabdariffa page.

No interaction 1,743 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,743 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Hibiscus Sabdariffa list.

See the full Hibiscus Sabdariffa interactions page
See every supplement checked against Fluvastatin, 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
Hibiscus Sabdariffa monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Fluvastatin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Fluvastatin, ranked by severity Fluvastatin 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 Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Fluvastatin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Hibiscus Sabdariffa with Fluvastatin?
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 Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Fluvastatin?
Fluvastatin belongs to more than one drug category, and Hibiscus Sabdariffa 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 Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Fluvastatin 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

Still Have a Question About Fluvastatin and Hibiscus Sabdariffa?

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.