Drug & supplement interaction

Periwinkle + Candesartan Cilexetil

Candesartan Cilexetil brand names: Atacand, Amias.

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

Periwinkle has a moderate interaction with Candesartan Cilexetil. Theoretically, taking periwinkle may increase the effects of antihypertensive drugs due to the hypotensive activity of vincamine, a constituent of periwinkle.

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

Periwinkle and Candesartan Cilexetil

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

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Candesartan Cilexetil

Candesartan Cilexetil falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Periwinkle interacts with.

Theoretically, taking periwinkle may increase the effects of antihypertensive drugs due to the hypotensive activity of vincamine, a constituent of periwinkle.
Severity Moderate 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 gist with candesartan (Atacand) and periwinkle. Candesartan already lowers your blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels. Periwinkle contains a compound called vincamine that, at least on paper, can also gently widen blood vessels and nudge your pressure downward. So stacking the two could add up and push your numbers lower than you want.

If that happens, you might notice dizziness, lightheadedness (especially when you stand up), fatigue, or feeling a bit faint. I'll be honest, this concern is theoretical, based on how the compounds work rather than solid human studies, so it may not amount to much. Still, please don't start or stop anything on your own. Check with your pharmacist or doctor first, and keep an eye on your blood pressure if you do combine them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 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

Periwinkle Also Interacts With Other Medications

Periwinkle has 171 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Candesartan Cilexetil 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. Candesartan Cilexetil)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Periwinkle

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Periwinkle or Candesartan Cilexetil

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

This page covers Periwinkle only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Candesartan Cilexetil 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 · 112 moderate · 22 minor.

Open the Candesartan Cilexetil interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 38 real supplement products containing Periwinkle, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Periwinkle. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Candesartan Cilexetil too, on top of Periwinkle — 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 Periwinkle and Candesartan Cilexetil 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 Periwinkle
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Candesartan Cilexetil
Top 5%

#93 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 Periwinkle

What is Periwinkle?

  • Memory and cognitive support
  • Circulation problems
  • Dizziness and ringing in the ears
  • Minor wounds and sore throat (traditional)
  • High blood pressure (traditional)

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is a flowering plant whose alkaloids are the source of vinpocetine, a compound marketed for memory and brain circulation. Evidence in humans is limited and mixed, and the plant contains potent compounds that can be toxic in larger amounts, so it should be used only with professional guidance. A closely related plant, Madagascar periwinkle, is the source of important cancer chemotherapy drugs but is not safe to use as a home remedy.

Read the full Periwinkle monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Candesartan

What Is Candesartan Used For?

Brand names: Atacand, Amias

Candesartan tablets are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and in children ages 1 to under 17. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Candesartan tablets are also used in adults with heart failure (NYHA class II–IV) with reduced heart pumping function to lower the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization from heart failure. Atacand is specifically studied for use alongside an ACE inhibitor for added benefit in heart failure.

See full Candesartan drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Periwinkle

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Periwinkle — 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 Periwinkle page.

No interaction 2,658 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Periwinkle 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 Periwinkle list.

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

Can you take Periwinkle with Candesartan Cilexetil?
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 Periwinkle and Candesartan Cilexetil 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 Candesartan Cilexetil and Periwinkle?

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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.