Drug & supplement interaction

Indian Snakeroot + Pilocarpine

Pilocarpine brand names: Salagen, Pilocar, Vuity, Qlosi.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Pilocarpine and Indian Snakeroot in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Indian Snakeroot safety at a glance

Indian Snakeroot overall Use caution Contains potent alkaloids that can cause serious side effects and should only be used under medical supervision.

Pregnancy Avoid Avoid during pregnancy, as its alkaloids may harm the developing baby.

Breastfeeding Avoid Avoid while breastfeeding, since reserpine can pass into breast milk.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Pilocarpine and Indian Snakeroot? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Pilocarpine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Pilocarpine is filed under 3 classifications — cholinergic drugs, topical drugs, oral drugs. Indian Snakeroot has documented interactions with 13 drug classes — the most serious being antipsychotic drugs (major), beta-blockers (major) and digoxin (lanoxin) (major) — and none of Pilocarpine’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Indian Snakeroot Does Interact With Other Medications

Indian Snakeroot has 83 major, 760 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Pilocarpine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 83 Moderate 760 No known interaction 1,987 (incl. Pilocarpine)

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.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

Chills Additional detail
Indian Snakeroot
“Orally, Indian snakeroot may cause headaches, feeling cold, dizziness, drowsiness, nightmares, and mild sedation. Indian snakeroot contains small amounts of reserpine and yohimbine and may theoretically cause some of the adverse effects associated with these constituents. Doses of reserpine of greater than 0.5 mg daily can increase the risk of side effects.”

Indian Snakeroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.
6 sources cited

94331. Sheldon MB, Kotte JH. Effect of Rauwolfia serpentina and reserpine on the blood pressure in essential hypertension; a long-term double-blind study. Circulation. 1957 Aug;16(2):200-6.

94332. Vakil RJ. A clinical trial of Rauwolfia serpentina in essential hypertension. Br Heart J. 1949 Oct;11(4):350-5. PubMed

94438. Achor RW, Hanson NO, Gifford RW Jr. Hypertension treated with Rauwolfia serpentina (whole root) and with reserpine; controlled study disclosing occasional severe depression. J Am Med Assoc. 1955 Oct 29;159(9):841-5. PubMed

94440. Wilkins RW, Judson WE. The use of Rauwolfia serpentina in hypertensive patients. N Engl J Med. 1953 Jan 8;248(2):48-53.

15. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.

94328. Lobay D. Rauwolfia in the Treatment of Hypertension. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Jun;14(3):40-6.
“There is one report of a hypersensitivity reaction to yohimbine, a constituent of Indian snakeroot. Symptoms included fever, chills, malaise, itchy, scaly skin, progressive kidney failure, and a lupus-like syndrome.”

Indian Snakeroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in kidney failure.
1 source cited

6169. Sandler B, Aronson P. Yohimbine-induced cutaneous drug eruption, progressive renal failure, and lupus-like syndrome. Urol 1993;41:343-5. PubMed
Pilocarpine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Pilocarpine. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A stuffy or runny nose Additional detail
Indian Snakeroot
“Orally, Indian snakeroot can cause nasal stuffiness or congestion and shortness of breath. One study shows that Indian snakeroot may increase the risk for nasal congestion more than the constituent reserpine.. Reserpine is also associated with rare reports of allergic reactions that can precipitate asthma (15,94328).”

Indian Snakeroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in asthma.
6 sources cited

94330. Lowinger P. Rauwolfia serpentina in the control of anxiety. Psychiatr Q. 1957 Jul;31(3):445-53. PubMed

94332. Vakil RJ. A clinical trial of Rauwolfia serpentina in essential hypertension. Br Heart J. 1949 Oct;11(4):350-5. PubMed

94438. Achor RW, Hanson NO, Gifford RW Jr. Hypertension treated with Rauwolfia serpentina (whole root) and with reserpine; controlled study disclosing occasional severe depression. J Am Med Assoc. 1955 Oct 29;159(9):841-5. PubMed

94440. Wilkins RW, Judson WE. The use of Rauwolfia serpentina in hypertensive patients. N Engl J Med. 1953 Jan 8;248(2):48-53.

15. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.

94328. Lobay D. Rauwolfia in the Treatment of Hypertension. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Jun;14(3):40-6.
Pilocarpine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Pilocarpine. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Sweating Additional detail

Indian Snakeroot

Recorded for Indian Snakeroot in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Chills above.

Pilocarpine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Pilocarpine. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Nausea reported in 6.2% of FDA reports for Pilocarpine Additional detail
Indian Snakeroot
“Orally, Indian snakeroot has been associated with increased or decreased appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Yohimbine, a constituent of Indian snakeroot, has been associated with nausea, vomiting, increased salivation, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal distress. Reserpine, another constituent of Indian snakeroot, may cause gastrointestinal irritation and activation of peptic ulcers (15,19).”

Indian Snakeroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.
6 sources cited

94332. Vakil RJ. A clinical trial of Rauwolfia serpentina in essential hypertension. Br Heart J. 1949 Oct;11(4):350-5. PubMed

94438. Achor RW, Hanson NO, Gifford RW Jr. Hypertension treated with Rauwolfia serpentina (whole root) and with reserpine; controlled study disclosing occasional severe depression. J Am Med Assoc. 1955 Oct 29;159(9):841-5. PubMed

94440. Wilkins RW, Judson WE. The use of Rauwolfia serpentina in hypertensive patients. N Engl J Med. 1953 Jan 8;248(2):48-53.

3970. Jacobsen FM. Fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction and an open trial of yohimbine. J Clin Psychiatry 1992;53:119-22.

17465. Kearney T, Tu N, Haller C. Adverse drug events associated with yohimbine-containing products: a retrospective review of the California Poison Control System reported cases. Ann Pharmacother 2010;44:1022-9. PubMed

86780. Bagheri, H., Schmitt, L., Berlan, M., and Montastruc, J. L. Effect of 3 weeks treatment with yohimbine on salivary secretion in healthy volunteers and in depressed patients treated with tricyclic antidepressants. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1992;34(6):555-558. PubMed
Pilocarpine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Pilocarpine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Diarrhea Additional detail

Indian Snakeroot

“Orally, Indian snakeroot may be unsafe, particularly at high doses. Most adverse effects are thought to be from the constituents reserpine and yohimbine.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally: Abdominal pain, bradycardia, congestion, diarrhea, hypotension, increased appetite, nightmares, sedation, weight gain.

Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

Orally: Atrial fibrillation, convulsions, depression, myocardial infarction.”

Indian Snakeroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in atrial fibrillation.

Pilocarpine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Pilocarpine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Indian Snakeroot but not commonly for Pilocarpine: stomach upset, fainting, a heart attack and an irregular heartbeat.

Effects for Pilocarpine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Indian Snakeroot come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 3,286 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Pilocarpine that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Pilocarpine Is Prescribed For, and What Indian Snakeroot Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Pilocarpine is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Indian Snakeroot is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Pilocarpine is prescribed for: Pilocarpine eye drops are used to lower elevated pressure inside the eye in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, to manage acute angle-closure glaucoma, to prevent pressure spikes after laser eye surgery, and to cause pupil constriction (miosis) when needed. Vuity and Qlosi eye drops, as well as Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic solution, are specifically approved to treat presbyopia (age-related difficulty focusing up close) in adults. Pilocarpine tablets — including Salagen and generic pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets — are used by mouth to relieve dry mouth caused by salivary gland damage from radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, or from Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune condition that reduces saliva and tear production).

Indian Snakeroot has been studied for:

Hypertension studied, not established Indian Snakeroot has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Indian Snakeroot for hypertension

It is unclear if oral Indian snakeroot is beneficial in patients with hypertension.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Pilocarpine on your own; if you are taking Indian Snakeroot for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Pilocarpine

This page covers Indian Snakeroot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pilocarpine page lists 40 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Bacopa (moderate), Bael (moderate), Betel Nut (moderate) and Boxwood (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 28 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pilocarpine page

“Pilocarpine stimulates the body's cholinergic system, whether as Salagen tablets for the dry mouth of Sjogren's or radiation treatment or as eye drops like Vuity, and its supplement list calls for real care. The one major-rated interaction among the 40 on file is activated charcoal, which soaks up the drug in the gut and can cut how mu…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pilocarpine 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. Even though Indian Snakeroot itself has no known interaction with Pilocarpine, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine 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

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

29 days ago today

Medication Pilocarpine

Steady interest

#1,685 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.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Indian Snakeroot reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Indian Snakeroot

What is 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.

Rauvolfia serpentina · Apocynaceae · Root · Powder, capsules, tablets, dried root, traditional preparations

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Indian Snakeroot is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Indian Snakeroot record says about it on its own.

Indian Snakeroot: dosing

There is no well-established safe dose of Indian snakeroot for self-care. The amount of active alkaloids in herbal products can vary widely, which makes safe dosing difficult.If a healthcare provider recommends a product, follow the label and their instructions exactly. Do not increase the dose on your own.

From our Indian Snakeroot monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Indian Snakeroot monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Pilocarpine

What Is Pilocarpine Used For?

Brand names: Salagen, Pilocar, Vuity, Qlosi

Pilocarpine eye drops are used to lower elevated pressure inside the eye in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, to manage acute angle-closure glaucoma, to prevent pressure spikes after laser eye surgery, and to cause pupil constriction (miosis) when needed. Vuity and Qlosi eye drops, as well as Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic solution, are specifically approved to treat presbyopia (age-related difficulty focusing up close) in adults.

Pilocarpine tablets — including Salagen and generic pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets — are used by mouth to relieve dry mouth caused by salivary gland damage from radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, or from Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune condition that reduces saliva and tear production).

See full Pilocarpine 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.

83Major

760Moderate

0Minor

1,986No known interaction

83 Major 760 Moderate 1,986 No interaction

Major

83 interactions

Showing 60 of 83 major interactions — see all 83 on the Indian Snakeroot page.

Moderate

760 interactions

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

No interaction 1,986 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,986 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Indian Snakeroot list.

See the full Indian Snakeroot interactions page

See every supplement checked against Pilocarpine, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Indian Snakeroot References

The 43 references that drive our Indian Snakeroot monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
Young DS. Effects of Drugs on Clinical Laboratory Tests 4th ed. Washington: AACC Press, 1995.
Milman N, Scheibel J, Jessen O. Lysine prophylaxis in recurrent herpes simplex labialis: a double-blind, controlled crossover study. Acta Derm Venereol 1980;60:85-7.
Teloken C, Rhoden EL, Sogari P, et al. Therapeutic effects of high dose yohimbine hydrochloride on organic erectile dysfunction. J Urol 1998;159:122-4. PubMed
Jacobsen FM. Fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction and an open trial of yohimbine. J Clin Psychiatry 1992;53:119-22.
Hollander E, McCarley A. Yohimbine treatment of sexual side effects induced by serotonin reuptake blockers. J Clin Psychiatry 1992;53:207-9.
Sandler B, Aronson P. Yohimbine-induced cutaneous drug eruption, progressive renal failure, and lupus-like syndrome. Urol 1993;41:343-5. PubMed
Kearney T, Tu N, Haller C. Adverse drug events associated with yohimbine-containing products: a retrospective review of the California Poison Control System reported cases. Ann Pharmacother 2010;44:1022-9. PubMed
VandenBrink, B. M., Foti, R. S., Rock, D. A., Wienkers, L. C., and Wahlstrom, J. L. Prediction of CYP2D6 drug interactions from in vitro data: evidence for substrate-dependent inhibition. Drug Metab Dispos. 2012;40(1):47-53. PubMed
Mustonen, P., Savola, J., and Lassila, R. Atipamezole, an imidazoline-type alpha(2)-adrenoceptor inhibitor, binds to human platelets and inhibits their adrenaline-induced aggregation more effectively than yohimbine. Thromb.Res 8-1-2000;99(3):231-237.
Bagheri, H., Schmitt, L., Berlan, M., and Montastruc, J. L. Effect of 3 weeks treatment with yohimbine on salivary secretion in healthy volunteers and in depressed patients treated with tricyclic antidepressants. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1992;34(6):555-558. PubMed
Swann, A. C., Birnbaum, D., Jagar, A. A., Dougherty, D. M., and Moeller, F. G. Acute yohimbine increases laboratory-measured impulsivity in normal subjects. Biol.Psychiatry 5-15-2005;57(10):1209-1211. PubMed
Adeniyi, A. A., Brindley, G. S., Pryor, J. P., and Ralph, D. J. Yohimbine in the treatment of orgasmic dysfunction. Asian J Androl 2007;9(3):403-407. PubMed
Giampreti, A., Lonati, D., Locatelli, C., Rocchi, L., and Campailla, M. T. Acute neurotoxicity after yohimbine ingestion by a body builder. Clin Toxicol.(Phila) 2009;47(8):827-829. PubMed
Myers, A. and Barrueto, F., Jr. Refractory priapism associated with ingestion of yohimbe extract. J Med Toxicol. 2009;5(4):223-225.
Berlin, I., Crespo-Laumonnier, B., Cournot, A., Landault, C., Aubin, F., Legrand, J. C., and Puech, A. J. The alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine inhibits epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in healthy subjects. Clin Pharmacol.Ther. 199
Swann, A. C. Mechanisms of impulsivity in bipolar disorder and related illness. Epidemiol.Psichiatr.Soc. 2010;19(2):120-130.
Landis, E. and Shore, E. Yohimbine-induced bronchospasm. Chest 1989;96(6):1424. PubMed
Susset, J. G., Tessier, C. D., Wincze, J., Bansal, S., Malhotra, C., and Schwacha, M. G. Effect of yohimbine hydrochloride on erectile impotence: a double-blind study. J Urol. 1989;141(6):1360-1363. PubMed
Braddock, L., Cowen, P. J., Elliott, J. M., Fraser, S., and Stump, K. Binding of yohimbine and imipramine to platelets in depressive illness. Psychol.Med 1986;16(4):765-773. PubMed
Charney, D. S., Heninger, G. R., and Sternberg, D. E. Assessment of alpha 2 adrenergic autoreceptor function in humans: effects of oral yohimbine. Life Sci 6-7-1982;30(23):2033-2041.
Boon, N. A., Elliott, J. M., Grahame-Smith, D. G., John-Green, T., and Stump, K. A comparison of alpha 2-adrenoreceptor binding characteristics of intact human platelets identified by [3H]-yohimbine and [3H]- dihydroergocryptine. J Auton.Pharmacol 1983;3
Siddiqui, M. A., More-O'Ferrall, D., Hammod, R. S., Baime, R. V., and Staddon, A. P. Agranulocytosis associated with yohimbine use. Arch.Intern.Med 6-10-1996;156(11):1235-1237.
Mann, K., Klingler, T., Noe, S., Roschke, J., Muller, S., and Benkert, O. Effects of yohimbine on sexual experiences and nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity in erectile dysfunction. Arch.Sex Behav. 1996;25(1):1-16. PubMed
Riley AJ, Goodman R, Kellett JM, and et al. Double blind trial of yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of erection inadequacy. Sexual Marital Ther 1989;4(1):17-26. DOI
Ruck B, Shih RD, Marcus SM. Hypertensive crisis from herbal treatment of impotence. Am J Emerg Med. 1999;17:317-318. PubMed
Wylie KR. Yohimbine and sinusitis. Br J Psychiatry. 1996;169(3):384-5. PubMed
Lobay D. Rauwolfia in the Treatment of Hypertension. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Jun;14(3):40-6.
Lowinger P. Rauwolfia serpentina in the control of anxiety. Psychiatr Q. 1957 Jul;31(3):445-53. PubMed
Sheldon MB, Kotte JH. Effect of Rauwolfia serpentina and reserpine on the blood pressure in essential hypertension; a long-term double-blind study. Circulation. 1957 Aug;16(2):200-6.
Vakil RJ. A clinical trial of Rauwolfia serpentina in essential hypertension. Br Heart J. 1949 Oct;11(4):350-5. PubMed
Azmi MB, Qureshi SA. Methanolic Root Extract of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth Improves the Glycemic, Antiatherogenic, and Cardioprotective Indices in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice. Adv Pharmacol Sci. 2012;2012:376429.
Azmi MB, Qureshi SA. Rauwolfia serpentina improves altered glucose and lipid homeostasis in fructose-induced type 2 diabetic mice. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2016 Sep;29(5):1619-1624.
Achor RW, Hanson NO, Gifford RW Jr. Hypertension treated with Rauwolfia serpentina (whole root) and with reserpine; controlled study disclosing occasional severe depression. J Am Med Assoc. 1955 Oct 29;159(9):841-5. PubMed
Wilkins RW, Judson WE. The use of Rauwolfia serpentina in hypertensive patients. N Engl J Med. 1953 Jan 8;248(2):48-53.
Ryan JJ, Hanes DA, Corroon J, Taylor J, Bradley R. Prospective safety evaluation of a cardiovascular health dietary supplement in adults with prehypertension and stage I hypertension. J Altern Complement Med 2019;25(2):249-56. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0311. PubMed
Bharucha AE, Skaar T, Andrews CN, et al Relationship of cytochrome P450 pharmacogenetics to the effects of yohimbine on gastrointestinal transit and catecholamines in healthy subjects. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2008;20(8):891-9. PubMed
Schmauss M, Laakmann G, Dieterle D. Effects of alpha 2-receptor blockade in addition to tricyclic antidepressants in therapy-resistant depression. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1988;8(2):108-11.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Indian Snakeroot with Pilocarpine?

We do not list a known interaction between Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 5 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Are Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Indian Snakeroot in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Pilocarpine is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Indian Snakeroot and Pilocarpine combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Pilocarpine is filed under 3 classifications, and Indian Snakeroot has documented interactions with 13 drug classes — none of Pilocarpine's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Indian Snakeroot interact with any other medications?

Yes. Indian Snakeroot has 843 documented drug interactions in our database — Pilocarpine is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Pilocarpine interact with any supplements?

Yes. Pilocarpine has documented interactions with 40 supplements in our database — Indian Snakeroot is not one of them. The Pilocarpine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Indian Snakeroot monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Pilocarpine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Pilocarpine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Pilocarpine, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 43 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Pilocarpine and Indian Snakeroot?

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.

lupus-like syndrome: A set of symptoms resembling lupus, such as joint pain, rash, and fever, that appears while taking a substance and usually settles after stopping it.

sedative: A substance with a calming effect that can also cause drowsiness.

abdominal pain: Pain, cramping, or discomfort felt anywhere in the belly area.

anxiety: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, sometimes along with a racing heart or restlessness.

atrial fibrillation: An irregular, often fast heart rhythm coming from the heart's upper chambers, which can raise the risk of blood clots.

bradycardia: A slower-than-normal heart rate, usually under 60 beats per minute.

depression: A lasting low mood with loss of interest that affects everyday life.

diarrhea: Loose, watery bowel movements that happen more often than normal.

Drug Interactions: The label section listing other medicines, foods, or substances that can change how a medicine works or raise the chance of side effects.

hypersensitivity: An overreaction of the body's defense system to a substance, causing symptoms such as rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.

hypertension: Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, commonly called high blood pressure.

hypotension: Blood pressure that is lower than normal, which can cause dizziness or fainting.

insomnia: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep.

malaise: A general feeling of being unwell, uneasy, or low on energy, without one clear symptom.

myocardial infarction: The medical term for a heart attack, when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked.

sedation: A calm, sleepy, slowed-down state caused by a medicine that relaxes the brain and body.