Drug & supplement interaction

Rauvolfia Vomitoria + Pentoxifylline

Pentoxifylline brand name: Trental.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Rauvolfia Vomitoria has a minor interaction with Pentoxifylline. Theoretically, combining Rauvolfia vomitoria with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might have additive effects.

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

Rauvolfia Vomitoria and Pentoxifylline

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

Minor

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Pentoxifylline

Pentoxifylline falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Rauvolfia Vomitoria interacts with.

Theoretically, combining Rauvolfia vomitoria with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might have additive effects.
Rauvolfia vomitoria contains small amounts of yohimbine. Research in healthy adults shows that taking yohimbine in doses of 8 mg or more seems to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro by binding to the alpha-2 adrenoceptor. The effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria itself are unclear.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

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 gist for pentoxifylline (Trental): this medicine thins your blood a little to help it flow more easily through small vessels. Rauvolfia vomitoria contains tiny amounts of yohimbine, and in lab studies higher doses of yohimbine seemed to make platelets a bit less sticky. So in theory, pairing the two could nudge your blood toward thinning a touch more than expected.

I want to be honest with you, though: this is a theoretical concern based mostly on how these compounds behave, not on real-world reports with pentoxifylline. The likely effect is mild. Still, watch for things like easy bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding gums. Rauvolfia is a potent herb on its own, so please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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

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

Rauvolfia Vomitoria Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rauvolfia Vomitoria has 230 major, 523 moderate, 86 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Pentoxifylline 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 Rauvolfia Vomitoria

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Pentoxifylline

This page covers Rauvolfia Vomitoria only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pentoxifylline page lists 218 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), Aconite (moderate) and Allspice (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 190 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pentoxifylline page

“Pentoxifylline (Trental) improves blood flow in people with poor leg circulation partly by making platelets less sticky, so treat this list as one to read carefully rather than skim. Of the 218 supplements on file, 202 can also slow clotting, which means adding them stacks bleeding risk on bleeding risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pentoxifylline interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 17 real supplement products containing Rauvolfia Vomitoria, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Rauvolfia Vomitoria. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Pentoxifylline too, on top of Rauvolfia Vomitoria — 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 Rauvolfia Vomitoria and Pentoxifylline 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 Rauvolfia Vomitoria
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Pentoxifylline
Top half

#862 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 Rauvolfia Vomitoria

What is Rauvolfia Vomitoria?

  • High blood pressure
  • Anxiety and agitation
  • Sleep problems
  • Mental health symptoms (traditional use)
  • Fever and general ailments

Rauvolfia vomitoria is an African shrub whose root contains powerful alkaloids, including reserpine, that have historically been used for high blood pressure and agitation. Because these compounds can strongly affect blood pressure, mood, and the nervous system, the plant can cause serious side effects and is not a casual supplement. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Read the full Rauvolfia Vomitoria monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Pentoxifylline

What Is Pentoxifylline Used For?

Brand name: Trental

Pentoxifylline Extended-Release Tablets are used to treat intermittent claudication — leg pain, cramping, or fatigue that happens during walking because narrowed arteries aren't delivering enough blood to the muscles. The underlying cause is chronic occlusive arterial disease, a condition where the arteries in the limbs become blocked or narrowed over time.

Pentoxifylline can help improve walking distance and reduce symptoms, but it is not a substitute for procedures that physically open or bypass blocked arteries when those treatments are needed.

See full Pentoxifylline drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rauvolfia Vomitoria

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

230Major
523Moderate
86Minor
1,990No known interaction
Major

230 interactions

Showing 60 of 230 major interactions — see all 230 on the Rauvolfia Vomitoria page.

Moderate

523 interactions

Showing 60 of 523 moderate interactions — see all 523 on the Rauvolfia Vomitoria page.

Minor

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 minor interactions — see all 86 on the Rauvolfia Vomitoria page.

No interaction 1,990 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 Rauvolfia Vomitoria and Pentoxifylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rauvolfia Vomitoria with Pentoxifylline?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Rauvolfia Vomitoria and Pentoxifylline interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Pentoxifylline and Rauvolfia Vomitoria?

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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.