Drug & supplement interaction

Sage + Azilsartan

Azilsartan brand name: Edarbi.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Azilsartan falls into 2 drug categories that Sage can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, sage might increase or decrease the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Sage and Azilsartan

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Sage interacts with whole categories of medication. Azilsartan falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Sage in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Azilsartan

Azilsartan falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Sage interacts with.

Theoretically, sage might increase or decrease the effects of antihypertensive drugs.
Animal research suggests that common sage (Salvia officinalis) can cause prolonged blood pressure reduction. However, clinical research suggests that Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia) can increase blood pressure in some people with hypertension. Until more is known, use with caution.
Severity Moderate 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 honest picture with sage and azilsartan (Edarbi): this is a theoretical concern that comes mainly from lab and animal studies, not from solid human research. Azilsartan isn't a prodrug, so we're not worried about sage switching it on or off. Instead, the issue is that sage itself may nudge blood pressure, and which way it goes seems to depend on the type of sage.

Some sage (common sage) may lower blood pressure further, which could stack with your azilsartan and leave you feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint. A different variety (Spanish sage) might actually raise blood pressure in some people. Sprinkling sage on dinner is unlikely to matter. Concentrated extracts or capsules are where I'd pause and check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Todorov S, Philianos S, Petkov V, et al. Experimental pharmacological study of three species from genus Salvia. Acta Physiol Pharmacol (Bulg) 1984;10:13-20.
  2. Perry NS, Bollen C, Perry EK, Ballard C. Salvia for dementia therapy: review of pharmacological activity and pilot tolerability clinical trial. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003;75:651-9.. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Azilsartan also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, sage might increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
In vitro evidence suggests that aqueous extracts of sage can inhibit CYP2C9. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate 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 sage and your Azilsartan (Edarbi). Your body uses a liver enzyme called CYP2C9 to help process azilsartan. In test-tube studies, water-based sage extracts seem to slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happened in real life, azilsartan could build up slightly, which might nudge its blood-pressure-lowering effect stronger. That could mean more dizziness, lightheadedness when standing, or feeling unusually tired.

Now, the reassuring part: this is only laboratory evidence, and it has never actually been reported in people. Sprinkling sage on your food is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated sage capsules or oils are where I'd be a little more cautious. If you want to use those regularly, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Hana J, et al. In vitro inhibition of human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of marker substrates by natural products. Phytomedicine 2003;10:334-42.. 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

Sage Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sage has 1,295 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Azilsartan one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sage

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Sage or Azilsartan

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

This page covers Sage only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Azilsartan page lists 182 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 · 145 moderate · 33 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Azilsartan page

“Edarbi (azilsartan) lowers blood pressure, and its users are often the same shoppers browsing supplements sold for heart health, which makes this list of 182 ingredients one to treat with real care. Start with the four rated major: activated charcoal can soak up an oral dose before it absorbs, tyramine can push pressure up and blunt th…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Azilsartan interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 718 real supplement products containing Sage, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sage. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Azilsartan too, on top of Sage — 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 Sage and Azilsartan 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 Sage
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Azilsartan
Steady interest

#1,579 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 Sage

What is Sage?

Sage
  • Sore throat and mouth irritation
  • Digestive upset
  • Excessive sweating
  • Memory and thinking
  • Menopause symptoms (hot flashes)
  • General antioxidant support

Sage is a common kitchen herb that is generally safe in food amounts and is traditionally used for sore throats, digestion, sweating, and memory. Some early research is encouraging for sore throat and menopausal hot flashes, but most uses are not well proven. Concentrated extracts and the essential oil should be used carefully because high doses contain a compound called thujone, which can be harmful.

Read the full Sage monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Azilsartan

What Is Azilsartan Used For?

Brand name: Edarbi

Azilsartan medoxomil tablets — sold as both the generic Azilsartan Medoxomil and the brand Edarbi — are approved to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults. Bringing blood pressure down lowers the risk of serious cardiovascular events, especially stroke and heart attack.

The medication can be used on its own or alongside other blood pressure medicines. It is not a cure for high blood pressure, and managing the condition fully often involves lifestyle steps like limiting sodium, exercising, and quitting smoking.

See full Azilsartan drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sage

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

0Major
1,295Moderate
0Minor
1,534No known interaction
Moderate

1,295 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,295 moderate interactions — see all 1,295 on the Sage page.

No interaction 1,534 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 Sage and Azilsartan Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sage with Azilsartan?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Sage and Azilsartan?
Azilsartan belongs to more than one drug category, and Sage interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Sage and Azilsartan 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 Azilsartan and Sage?

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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.