Does Wild Lettuce Interact With Losartan?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses if there is an interaction between wild lettuce and losartan.
Will taking wild lettuce drops cause an interaction with losartan?
Feb 20, 2023- Wild lettuce has no known interaction with losartan or other blood pressure medications. Wild lettuce may have additive sedative effects if losartan makes you feel tired, so be aware of increased drowsiness. Wild lettuce should be used cautiously with other sedating drugs or medications with anticholinergic effects.
Quick Answer
There is no known interaction between wild lettuce and losartan. Although there are very few studies available that discuss the potential drug interactions of wild lettuce, it doesn't appear to interact with losartan or other blood pressure medications.
Detailed Answer
Wild lettuce, also known as Lactuca virosa, is a plant that is native to Europe and Central Asia and has a long history of use as a natural remedy for various ailments, including pain, anxiety, and insomnia. It is also commonly used for gastrointestinal conditions.
The plant's leaves, sap, and stems contain a milky white fluid that has been used to make teas and dietary supplements. The active compounds in wild lettuce, which include lactucin and lactupicrin, are thought to have sedative, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects, but more research is needed to fully understand its potential benefits.
In terms of drug interactions, wild lettuce likely has very few that are clinically significant.
We report in our drug-herbal interaction checker that it may interact with drugs that have a pronounced sedative effect (like Benadryl) as wild lettuce is often used for its sedative properties. Combining wild lettuce with other drugs that make you tired could have an additive effect in that regard.
Additionally, as wild lettuce may contain trace amounts of hyoscyamine, an anticholinergic, it should be used cautiously with other drugs that have anticholinergic effects due to the increased risk of side effects (which include dizziness, dry mouth, sweating, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, etc.).
I could find no evidence that wild lettuce interacts with losartan. The only thing I could think of is if losartan causes you to feel tired at all, which is an effect that some blood pressure medications have on people. In that case, due to the sedative effects of wild lettuce, that effect may be more pronounced. Nevertheless, this is something to be more aware of than anything versus it being classified as a drug interaction.
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Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Drug interactions
- When two substances affect how each other works in your body, potentially causing unexpected effects or reducing effectiveness.
- Sedative
- A substance that calms or helps induce sleep by slowing down brain and nervous system activity.
- Analgesic
- A medication or substance that relieves pain.
- Anti-inflammatory
- A substance that reduces swelling and inflammation in the body.
- Additive effect
- When two substances combine to produce a stronger effect than either would produce alone.
- Anticholinergic
- A substance that blocks certain nerve signals in the body, often causing side effects like dry mouth and constipation.
- Losartan
- A prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure.
- Lactucin
- A naturally occurring chemical compound found in wild lettuce that is believed to have calming properties.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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