Drug & supplement interaction

Indian Snakeroot + Paliperidone

Paliperidone brand name: Invega.

Major Interaction
The bottom line Major

Indian Snakeroot has a major interaction with Paliperidone. Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the risk of adverse effects.

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

Indian Snakeroot and Paliperidone

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

Major

ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Paliperidone

Paliperidone falls under ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS — the group Indian Snakeroot interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the risk of adverse effects.
Concomitant use of neuroleptics with Indian snakeroot may potentiate the effects of these drugs, as well as the alkaloid constituents of Indian snakeroot.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

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 thing to keep in mind with Indian snakeroot and Invega (paliperidone). Both of these work on similar nerve chemicals in the brain and on your blood pressure, so taking them together can pile their effects on top of each other. Paliperidone is already active as-is (it isn't a prodrug that needs activating), so this is about overlapping action rather than one changing how the other is broken down.

What that can look like in real life is more of paliperidone's typical effects: heavy drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure dropping low enough to make you lightheaded when you stand up. I'll be honest, this is a theoretical concern based on how the two work, not something proven in large studies. Still, snakeroot is potent and not a casual home remedy, so please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.

References
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

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

Indian Snakeroot Also Interacts With Other Medications

Indian Snakeroot has 82 major, 760 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Paliperidone 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 Indian Snakeroot

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Indian Snakeroot or Paliperidone

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

This page covers Indian Snakeroot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Paliperidone page lists 64 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 9 major · 44 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Paliperidone page

“Paliperidone (Invega) is an antipsychotic for schizophrenia and related conditions that can stretch the heart's QT interval on its own, so this list warrants real vigilance. Nine of the 64 ingredients on file carry a major rating, and most either prolong that QT interval further (grapefruit in large amounts is one of them) or intensify…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Paliperidone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 70 real supplement products containing Indian Snakeroot, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Indian Snakeroot. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Paliperidone too, on top of Indian Snakeroot — 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 Indian Snakeroot and Paliperidone 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 Indian Snakeroot
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Paliperidone
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 Indian Snakeroot

What is Indian Snakeroot?

Indian Snakeroot
  • High blood pressure
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Insomnia
  • Agitation
  • Fever (traditional use)

Indian snakeroot is a traditional Ayurvedic plant that contains reserpine, a compound with real blood-pressure-lowering and sedative effects. Because its potent alkaloids can cause serious side effects like depression and very low blood pressure, it should never be used without medical supervision. It is not a safe or simple home remedy, and many countries restrict its use.

Read the full Indian Snakeroot monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Paliperidone

What Is Paliperidone Used For?

Brand name: Invega

Paliperidone treats schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The extended-release tablets (Invega and generic paliperidone) are approved for schizophrenia in adults and adolescents ages 12–17, and for schizoaffective disorder in adults.

Several injectable formulations are also available, each with specific roles. Invega Sustenna and Erzofri extended-release are once-monthly injections approved for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in adults. Invega Trinza is a once-every-3-month injection for schizophrenia in adults who have already been stabilized on a once-monthly paliperidone palmitate injection for at least four months. Invega Hafyera is a once-every-6-month injection for schizophrenia in adults already stabilized on a once-monthly or every-3-month paliperidone palmitate injection.

See full Paliperidone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Indian Snakeroot

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

82Major
760Moderate
0Minor
1,987No known interaction
Major

82 interactions

Showing 60 of 82 major interactions — see all 82 on the Indian Snakeroot page.

Moderate

760 interactions

Showing 60 of 760 moderate interactions — see all 760 on the Indian Snakeroot page.

No interaction 1,987 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 Indian Snakeroot and Paliperidone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Indian Snakeroot with Paliperidone?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Indian Snakeroot and Paliperidone interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Paliperidone and Indian Snakeroot?

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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.