Herb & supplement monograph

Octopamine Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Octopamine interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Octopamine is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Octopamine is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Octopamine Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Octopamine drug interaction appears low for most people, though a few medication groups deserve caution. None of the listed interactions are rated major, roughly half are minor, and even the moderate ones rest mainly on theoretical or limited evidence rather than well-documented human studies.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The clearest concern is with MAOIs such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine, because the body uses the same enzyme these drugs block to break down octopamine, which could strengthen its effects, so people on MAOIs are generally advised to avoid it. Blood pressure medications also warrant attention: human data show octopamine can raise blood pressure in people whose pressure runs low, while animal research suggests it may lower it, so it could work against or add to these drugs unpredictably. Combining it with stimulants like caffeine or pseudoephedrine may modestly add to heart and blood pressure effects, though this is a minor, theoretical concern.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications largely reflects these few broad categories, since drugs for blood pressure and stimulants each include many individual medicines. Most of the predicted effects come from theory or animal research rather than confirmed problems in people, so a listed interaction does not mean the combination has actually caused harm.

Check your medications against Octopamine

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Octopamine interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Octopamine

352 medications have a known interaction with Octopamine, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Octopamine using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Octopamine interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. 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.
Possible. 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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Octopamine combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Octopamine affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Octopamine is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 3 drug categories Octopamine interacts with

Antihypertensive DrugsMonoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (maois)Stimulant Drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

In humans, octopamine 450-600 mg daily increases blood pressure in hypotensive patients. However, evidence from animal research suggests that octopamine can lower blood pressure. Theoretically, concomitant use of octopamine and antihypertensive drugs might potentiate and/or reduce the activity of antihypertensive drugs.
Some antihypertensive drugs include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Octopamine is metabolized by monoamine oxidase. Theoretically, concurrent use of MAOIs with octopamine might increase the effects and side effects of octopamine. Tell patients taking MAOIs to avoid using octopamine. Some MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Stimulant Drugs

Octopamine is thought to have stimulant effects. Theoretically, taking octopamine with other stimulant drugs might increase the risk of hypertension and adverse cardiovascular effects.
Some stimulant drugs include amphetamine, caffeine, diethylpropion (Tenuate), methylphenidate, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, others), and many others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Octopamine: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Octopamine is a stimulant-like compound found in small amounts in some plants (such as bitter orange) and made naturally in the body. It is marketed mostly in weight-loss and sports supplements, but human evidence that it actually helps with fat loss or performance is very limited. Because it can affect the heart and blood pressure and is banned in some sports, talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Part used: Octopamine is a naturally occurring compound; supplement forms are usually synthetic or derived from bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) peel
Common forms: Capsules, tablets, powders (often in fat-burner and pre-workout blends)

People commonly use it for

Weight loss and fat burning
Boosting energy
Athletic performance
Appetite suppression

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

It has stimulant-like effects and limited safety data, so use carefully and only after talking to a health professional.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

Octopamine is a compound that occurs naturally in the human body, where it acts as a type of signaling chemical (a trace amine). It is also found in small amounts in some plants, most notably the peel of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), and in many invertebrate animals where it plays a role similar to adrenaline.

As a supplement, octopamine is usually included in products marketed for weight loss, fat burning, and pre-workout energy. It is often combined with caffeine, synephrine, and other stimulants rather than sold on its own.

How it works

Octopamine is a trace amine that is chemically related to adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline. In laboratory and animal studies, it is thought to interact with adrenergic receptors—the same kind of receptors that respond to the body's natural "fight or flight" chemicals.

Because of this, supplement makers propose that it may slightly raise metabolism or help the body break down fat. However, these mechanisms come mainly from test-tube and animal research, and it is not clear how strongly they apply to humans taking it as a supplement.

Effectiveness

Does Octopamine work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 1 use evaluated

1 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Octopamine, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 1 condition — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Athletic performance

Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

One small clinical study shows that taking octopamine 150 mg 60 minutes before exercise does not improve endurance or reduce perceived exertion in healthy, active young men when compared with placebo.

Sources Ref 100089

Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.

Safety & precautions

Octopamine acts like a mild stimulant, so it has the potential to raise heart rate and blood pressure. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, anxiety, an overactive thyroid, or other medical conditions should be especially cautious and check with a doctor first.

Octopamine is also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in competition, so athletes who are drug-tested should avoid it. Quality and labeling of products containing octopamine can be inconsistent.

Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. Because of the lack of data and its stimulant nature, it is best to avoid octopamine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Always talk to a pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Side effects

Reported and expected side effects relate to its stimulant-like activity and may include increased heart rate, palpitations, raised blood pressure, jitteriness, anxiety, headache, and trouble sleeping.

More serious effects on the heart and blood pressure are possible, especially at higher doses or when combined with other stimulants such as caffeine or synephrine. If you notice chest pain, a very rapid or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or severe headache, stop the product and seek medical care right away.

Octopamine: Reported Adverse Effects

Documented safety reports on Octopamine from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.

Octopamine is chemically similar to synephrine, a stimulant that might cause severe adverse effects in some patients. Due to theoretical concerns for stimulant-related adverse effects, Health Canada has set the maximum daily dose of octopamine at 50 mg. However, clinical evidence on the safety of octopamine at any dose is lacking. In one case report, chronic use of a sports supplement containing octopamine and other ingredients resulted in thrombus and myocardial infarction.

Health Canada. Synephrine, Octopamine and Caffeine Health Risk Assessment (HRA) Report. Approved May 16, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2019. Available at: http://www.nutratechinc.com/advz/Studies2011/Safety/S1%20Health%20Canada%200511.pdf.
Smedema JP, Müller GJ. Coronary spasm and thrombosis in a bodybuilder using a nutritional supplement containing synephrine, octopamine, tyramine and caffeine. S Afr Med J. 2008;98(5):372-3.

Reports by condition

Angina Cardiovascular

Octopamine is commonly used as a stimulant. Due to its chemical similarities to synephrine, a stimulant with the potential to cause severe cardiovascular effects, Health Canada has set the maximum daily dose of octopamine at 50 mg. However, clinical evidence on the safety of octopamine at any dose is lacking.

In a previously healthy, 39-year-old man, chronic use of a multi-ingredient sports supplement was associated with the development of a thrombus, angina, and acute myocardial infarction. The product claimed to contain synephrine 40 mg, caffeine 400 mg, and unspecified amounts of octopamine and tyramine, in addition to various other products such as St. John's Wort. It is not clear if these effects were due to octopamine, the other ingredients, the patient's concomitant dehydration, or a combination of these factors.

Health Canada. Synephrine, Octopamine and Caffeine Health Risk Assessment (HRA) Report. Approved May 16, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2019. Available at: http://www.nutratechinc.com/advz/Studies2011/Safety/S1%20Health%20Canada%200511.pdf.
Smedema JP, Müller GJ. Coronary spasm and thrombosis in a bodybuilder using a nutritional supplement containing synephrine, octopamine, tyramine and caffeine. S Afr Med J. 2008;98(5):372-3.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.

Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

Dosing

There is no well-established, standardized dose for octopamine as a supplement. It usually appears in combination products, and amounts vary widely from one brand to another.

If you choose to use a product containing octopamine, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them. Because of the stimulant effects and limited safety data, it is wise to start low, avoid combining it with other stimulants, and check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Octopamine & Pregnancy

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Octopamine & Breastfeeding

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 6 references that drive our Octopamine monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Visentin V, Morin N, Fontana E, et al. Dual action of octopamine on glucose transport into adipocytes: inhibition via beta3-adrenoceptor activation and stimulation via oxidation by amine oxidases. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2001;299:96-104.
Health Canada. Synephrine, Octopamine and Caffeine Health Risk Assessment (HRA) Report. Approved May 16, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2019. Available at: http://www.nutratechinc.com/advz/Studies2011/Safety/S1%20Health%20Canada%200511.pdf.
Pawar RS, Grundel E. Overview of regulation of dietary supplements in the USA and issues of adulteration with phenethylamines (PEAs). Drug Test Anal 2017;9:500-517. PubMed
Beaumont RE, Cordery P, James LJ, Watson P. Supplementation with a low-dose of octopamine does not influence endurance cycling performance in recreationally active men. J Sci Med Sport. 2017;20(10):952-956. PubMed
Smedema JP, Müller GJ. Coronary spasm and thrombosis in a bodybuilder using a nutritional supplement containing synephrine, octopamine, tyramine and caffeine. S Afr Med J. 2008;98(5):372-3.
Fontana E, Morin N, Prévot D, Carpéné C. Effects of octopamine on lipolysis, glucose transport and amine oxidation in mammalian fat cells. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2000;125(1):33-44. PubMed

Keep reading

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.

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.

Brand directory

Brands that make products with Octopamine

40 brands in our database make a supplement containing Octopamine.

1-800-WellMed 20 products A.B.B. American Body Building 55 products ALLMAX NUTRITION 24 products American Metabolix 7 products Anabolic Research 4 products AST Sports Science 89 products Beast 12 products BSN 224 products Cellucor 473 products Centurion Labz 15 products Core Labs X 1 product DNA Anabolics 26 products DNM Nutra Incorporated 2 products EFlow Nutrition 3 products First Choice Supplements 1 product GAT 19 products GEC Genetic Edge Compounds 13 products Genetech Pharma Labs 4 products Global Formulas 3 products Hard Rock Supplements 14 products Imperial Nutrition 1 product Iron-Tek 16 products LG Sciences 27 products MM Sports Nutrition 123 products

Product directory

Supplement products with Octopamine

118 products in our database contain Octopamine. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Octopamine: Common Questions

What is Octopamine used for, and does it work?

People use Octopamine for a range of reasons, but according to the Natural Medicines database the current clinical evidence is insufficient to confirm it works for the specific conditions it has been studied for. See the graded list on this page, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before relying on it for any condition.

Does Octopamine interact with prescription medications?

Yes. We list 352 medications with a known interaction with Octopamine. Use the checker above to see how Octopamine interacts with a specific drug.

How are Octopamine interactions rated?

Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.

Is it safe to take Octopamine with my medications?

It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.

Where does this Octopamine interaction information come from?

Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.

What is Octopamine used for?

It is mostly marketed in weight-loss, fat-burner, and pre-workout supplements for energy and fat burning, but solid human evidence supporting these uses is limited.

Is Octopamine safe?

It acts like a mild stimulant and can raise heart rate and blood pressure, and safety data are limited, so use it cautiously and only after checking with a health professional.

Can I take Octopamine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

No reliable safety information exists for these situations, so it is best to avoid Octopamine during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Can athletes use Octopamine?

Octopamine is banned in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency, so drug-tested athletes should avoid it.

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

Keep exploring

Products that contain Octopamine

A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Octopamine — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.

See all 118 products with Octopamine →

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Octopamine Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Your Choice:

Octopamine Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

Drugs that interact with Octopamine

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Where This Data Comes From

The kinds of drugs Octopamine affects

Octopamine: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Overview

How it works

Does Octopamine work?

Safety & precautions

Side effects

Octopamine: Reported Adverse Effects

Dosing

Octopamine & Pregnancy

Octopamine & Breastfeeding

References & further reading

Brands that make products with Octopamine

Supplement products with Octopamine

Octopamine: Common Questions

Related supplements & herbs

Products that contain Octopamine

Have a question about Octopamine?