Drug & supplement interaction

Olive Oil + Reserpine

Reserpine brand names: Serpasil, Sandril.

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

Olive Oil has a moderate interaction with Reserpine. Theoretically, taking olive oil with antihypertensive drugs might have additive effects on blood pressure.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Olive Oil and Reserpine

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

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Reserpine

Reserpine falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Olive Oil interacts with.

Theoretically, taking olive oil with antihypertensive drugs might have additive effects on blood pressure.
Some clinical and observational research suggests that adding olive oil into the diet, especially in place of saturated fat, is associated with reduced blood pressure.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

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 simple version: olive oil itself can gently nudge your blood pressure downward, especially when you use it in place of less healthy fats. Reserpine already lowers blood pressure by calming the nervous system and relaxing your blood vessels. Put them together and the effects can stack up a bit, so your numbers may run lower than expected.

For most people, the olive oil you cook with as part of a normal diet is a healthy choice and unlikely to cause trouble. The thing to watch for is dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint when you stand up, which can mean your pressure has dropped too far. If you're thinking about concentrated olive oil supplements, or you notice those symptoms, check in with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Trevisan M, Krogh V, Freudenheim J, et al. Consumption of olive oil, butter, and vegetable oils and coronary heart disease risk factors. The Research Group ATS-RF2 of the Italian National Research Council. JAMA 1990;263:688-92. DOI
  2. Keys A, Menotti A, Karvonen MJ , et al. The diet and 15-year death rate in the seven countries study. Am J Epidemiol 1986;124:903-15. PubMed
  3. Ferrara LA, Raimondi AS, d'Episcopo L, et al. Olive oil and reduced need for antihypertensive medications. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:837-42. 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

Olive Oil Also Interacts With Other Medications

Olive Oil has 171 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Reserpine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 171 No known interaction 2,659 (incl. Reserpine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Olive Oil

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Olive Oil or Reserpine

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

This page covers Olive Oil only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Reserpine page lists 138 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 · 113 moderate · 21 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Reserpine page

“Reserpine (Serpasil, Sandril) lowers blood pressure, and the 138 supplements and herbs listed here merit real vigilance, four of them rated major. Most pull in one of two directions: many common supplements lower pressure on their own and can add to reserpine's effect, dropping it too far, while a smaller group raises pressure and work…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Reserpine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 316 real supplement products containing Olive Oil, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Olive Oil. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Reserpine too, on top of Olive Oil — 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 Olive Oil and Reserpine 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 Olive Oil
Steady interest

#1,127 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Reserpine
Steady interest

#1,690 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 Olive Oil

What is Olive Oil?

Olive Oil
  • Heart health
  • Cholesterol support
  • General nutrition (Mediterranean diet)
  • Skin and hair care
  • Mild constipation
  • Anti-inflammatory support

Olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is a healthy fat that forms a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet and is linked with better heart health. Used as part of a balanced diet it is generally safe for most people, but it is calorie-dense, so portion size matters. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements.

Read the full Olive Oil monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Reserpine

What Is Reserpine Used For?

Brand names: Serpasil, Sandril

  • Reserpine is used to treat high blood pressure. It also is used to treat severe agitation in patients with mental disorders. Reserpine is in a class of medications called rauwolfia alkaloids. It works by slowing the activity of the nervous system, causing the heartbeat to slow and the blood vessels to relax.

  • High blood pressure is a common condition and when not treated, can cause damage to the brain, heart, blood vessels, kidneys and other parts of the body. Damage to these organs may cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision, and other problems. In addition to taking medication, making lifestyle changes will also help to control your blood pressure. These changes include eating a diet that is low in fat and salt, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising at least 30 minutes most days, not smoking, and using alcohol in moderation.

See full Reserpine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Olive Oil

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

0Major
171Moderate
0Minor
2,658No known interaction
171 Moderate 2,658 No interaction
Moderate

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 moderate interactions — see all 171 on the Olive Oil page.

No interaction 2,658 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,658 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Olive Oil list.

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

Can you take Olive Oil with Reserpine?
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 Olive Oil and Reserpine 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 Reserpine and Olive Oil?

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.