Drug & supplement interaction

L-citrulline + Phenoxybenzamine

Phenoxybenzamine brand name: Dibenzyline.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

L-citrulline has a moderate interaction with Phenoxybenzamine. Theoretically, concomitant use of L-citrulline with antihypertensive drugs might have additive effects and increase the chance of hypotension.

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

L-citrulline and Phenoxybenzamine

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

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Phenoxybenzamine

Phenoxybenzamine falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group L-citrulline interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-citrulline with antihypertensive drugs might have additive effects and increase the chance of hypotension.
L-citrulline is converted to L-arginine, which can increase nitric oxide and cause vasodilation. However, a meta-analysis of 5 small clinical studies suggests that taking L-citrulline 3-6 grams daily for 1-8 weeks does not lower blood pressure when compared with control.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 simple version. Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline) lowers blood pressure by blocking signals that tighten your blood vessels, so they stay relaxed and wider. L-citrulline works on a different pathway, turning into L-arginine and nitric oxide, which can also relax blood vessels. Stack the two and, in theory, you could get a bigger blood pressure drop than expected.

What might that feel like? Dizziness, lightheadedness, a fast heartbeat, or feeling faint when you stand up, since phenoxybenzamine already tends to cause those. The good news: this is mostly theoretical, and a review of small studies found L-citrulline didn't really move blood pressure much. Still, because phenoxybenzamine is used for a sensitive condition, please check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding it.

References
  1. Cheng JW, Balwin SN. L-arginine in the management of cardiovascular diseases. Ann Pharmacother 2001;35:755-64. PubMed
  2. Schwedhelm E, Maas R, Freese R, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolism. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008;65:51-9. PubMed
  3. Romero MJ, Platt DH, Caldwell RB, Caldwell RW. Therapeutic use of citrulline in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Drug Rev 2006;24:275-90. PubMed
  4. Mirenayat MS, Moradi S, Mohammadi H, Rouhani MH. Effect of L-citrulline supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2018;20(11):98. 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

L-citrulline Also Interacts With Other Medications

L-citrulline has 177 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Phenoxybenzamine 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 L-citrulline

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

From our Q&A

Questions About L-citrulline or Phenoxybenzamine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers L-citrulline or Phenoxybenzamine, 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 Phenoxybenzamine

This page covers L-citrulline only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenoxybenzamine page lists 137 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), Tyramine (major) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 112 moderate · 21 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenoxybenzamine page

“Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline) is usually prescribed for pheochromocytoma, an adrenal tumor that sends blood pressure surging, often to steady a patient in the weeks before surgery, so keeping pressure in a narrow band is the entire goal of treatment. That makes this a list to treat carefully rather than skim.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenoxybenzamine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking L-citrulline as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 63 real supplement products containing L-citrulline, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides L-citrulline. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Phenoxybenzamine too, on top of L-citrulline — 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 L-citrulline and Phenoxybenzamine 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 L-citrulline
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Phenoxybenzamine
Top half

#758 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 L-citrulline

What is L-citrulline?

L-citrulline
  • Exercise performance
  • Muscle soreness and fatigue
  • Blood flow and circulation
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Blood pressure support

L-citrulline is an amino acid that the body turns into L-arginine to help make nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and may improve blood flow. It is popular for exercise performance and circulation, but the evidence is mixed and most benefits are modest. It appears generally well tolerated, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Read the full L-citrulline monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Phenoxybenzamine

What Is Phenoxybenzamine Used For?

Brand name: Dibenzyline

Phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride capsules are used to treat pheochromocytoma — a rare tumor of the adrenal gland that releases large bursts of stress hormones, causing dangerous spikes in blood pressure and heavy sweating. The capsules help keep those episodes under control.

If the heart rate becomes too fast during treatment, a doctor may also prescribe a beta-blocker alongside phenoxybenzamine.

See full Phenoxybenzamine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & L-citrulline

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

0Major
177Moderate
0Minor
2,652No known interaction
Moderate

177 interactions

Showing 60 of 177 moderate interactions — see all 177 on the L-citrulline page.

No interaction 2,652 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 L-citrulline and Phenoxybenzamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take L-citrulline with Phenoxybenzamine?
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 L-citrulline and Phenoxybenzamine 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 Phenoxybenzamine and L-citrulline?

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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.