Overview

Rauvolfia vomitoria is a shrub found mainly in West Africa. Various parts of the plant are used in traditional Nigerian and Chinese medicine.

Rauvolfia vomitoria contains chemicals that lower blood pressure, kill cancer cells and bacteria, and help with brain function. It is not completely clear which chemicals are the most important in Rauvolfia vomitoria or exactly how they might work together.

People use Rauvolfia vomitoria for athletic performance, diabetes, psychosis, fever, cancer, high blood pressure, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It might also be unsafe.

Rauvolfia vomitoria is used in some workoutsupplements. Some countries have banned supplements containing Rauvolfia vomitoria extract from the market because some extracts contain high levels of chemicals that are prescription drugs. Don't confuse Rauvolfia vomitoria with Indian snakeroot, yohimbe, or rauwolscine. These are not the same.



Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Rauvolfia Vomitoria overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Rauvolfia vomitoria is possibly unsafe. Rauvolfia vomitoria dried root powder can cause shakiness, jerky movements, or slower movements in some people. Rauvolfia vomitoria also contains chemicals that can cause serious side effects, including low or high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and seizures.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Rauvolfia vomitoria is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Rauvolfia vomitoria is possibly unsafe. Rauvolfia vomitoria dried root powder can cause shakiness, jerky movements, or slower movements in some people. Rauvolfia vomitoria also contains chemicals that can cause serious side effects, including low or high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and seizures.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Rauvolfia vomitoria is safe or what the side effects might be.

Pregnancy: Rauvolfia vomitoria is possible unsafe to use while pregnant. It contains chemicals that might cause birth defects.

Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Rauvolfia vomitoria is safe to use while breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Anxiety: Rauvolfia vomitoria contains a chemical that might make anxiety worse.

Depression: Rauvolfia vomitoria contains a chemical that might make depression worse.

Shock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy, ECT): Rauvolfia vomitoria should not be used by people who are receiving ECT. Stop taking Rauvolfia vomitoria at least one week before beginning ECT.

Gallstones: Rauvolfia vomitoria might make gallbladder disease worse.

Heart disease: Chemicals in Rauvolfia vomitoria can increase or decrease blood pressure. Use with caution if you have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease.

Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions: Rauvolfia vomitoria can irritate the stomach and intestines. Don't use it if you have ever had peptic ulcers or inflammation (swelling) of the GI tract.

Pheochromocytoma: Don't use Rauvolfia vomitoria if you have this condition.

Surgery: Rauvolfia vomitoria might affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using Rauvolfia vomitoria at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Rauvolfia vomitoria contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical might increase the side effects of some medications used for depression.

    Some common MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Rauvolfia vomitoria might lower blood sugar levels. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

  • Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Rauvolfia vomitoria might lower blood pressure. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.

  • Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Rauvolfia vomitoria has some of the same effects as medications for mental conditions. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with these medications might increase the risk of side effects from these medications.

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Rauvolfia vomitoria might slow blood clotting. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

  • Stimulant drugs interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Rauvolfia vomitoria might also speed up the nervous system. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with Rauvolfia vomitoria.

  • Ephedrine interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Ephedrine can speed up the nervous system and make you feel jittery. Rauvolfia vomitoria might speed up or slow down the nervous system. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with ephedrine might increase or decrease the effects of ephedrine.

  • Levodopa interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Levodopa is used for Parkinson disease. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria along with levodopa might decrease the effects of levodopa and worsen symptoms of Parkinson disease.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Rauvolfia vomitoria might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

  • Medications for depression (Tricyclic Antidepressants) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Taking some medications used for depression might alter the effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria and increase the risk for side effects.

  • Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with Rauvolfia Vomitoria

    Rauvolfia vomitoria might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking Rauvolfia vomitoria with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of Rauvolfia vomitoria might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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