Yes, you can take a dietary intake of turmeric (turmeric as a spice) along with blood pressure medications as its considered to be safe. However, it is not recommended to take supplemental dosages of turmeric/curcumin or golden paste concomitantly with blood pressure medications and a gap of 3-4 hours must be maintained.
Theoretically, it is thought that taking turmeric (high dose or supplements) along with other drugs may have an additive effect which may reduce the blood pressure significantly.
Read: Turmeric benefits for high blood pressure
Dietary intake (turmeric as a spice) of turmeric contains much less concentration of curcumin, and thus, it may not have a profound effect.
Let us understand this better with scientific evidence.
Table of Contents
Turmeric Interaction with Blood Pressure Medication
1. Turmeric helps in hypertension and may not affect the working of drugs
Turmeric and its constituent curcuminoids regulate and normalise blood pressure levels.
Turmeric can also help in the prevention of health complications arising due to high blood pressure including disorders of the heart [1], kidney [2] [3] and eyes [4].
Due to these benefits, it is highly recommended to include the natural spice turmeric in the diet. It may act as an adjuvant to other medications and therapies and may help in lowering the doses of drugs and their possible side effects.
There are hardly any studies which mention the adverse effects of consuming turmeric or curcumin with blood pressure medicines.
In a study, curcumin taken concomitantly with talinolol, a drug used for hypertension, was found to increase its absorption and plasma concentration. [5]
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports another study wherein the bioavailability of the same drug talinolol, was unexpectedly reduced when administered together with curcumin. [6]
Some studies have used curcumin in combination with blood pressure medicines in treating some other disorders.
Curcumin used in combination with ACE inhibitors improves cardiac function after an incident of myocardial infarction. [7]
Curcumin taken with a beta blocker nebivolol protects the heart from toxic effects of cancer drugs. [8]
These studies suggest the possibility of their use together. However, more studies are required to ascertain these facts.
Also, we can’t forget that black pepper taken with turmeric regulates the absorption of other drugs as well. So if taken with blood pressure medications, it may increase their absorption and this may not be safe on a long term.
Nonetheless, maintaining a gap of 3-4 hours is recommended to avoid potential interactions between turmeric and drugs.
2. Turmeric acts in the same manner as blood pressure lowering drugs
Turmeric lowers blood pressure and acts similarly to some widely used drugs such as ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors, beta blockers, and calcium channel inhibitors. [9]
Turmeric acts as an ACE inhibitor by inhibiting the formation of angiotensin which lowers blood pressure. [10] [11]
Like beta blockers, turmeric helps in regulating heartbeat, blood flow and consequently, the blood pressure. [12]
It restricts calcium from entering the cells of the blood vessel and heart which relaxes the blood vessels and ensures the smooth passage of blood. [13] [14] Calcium channel blockers like verapamil, amlodipine, clevidipine, and felodipine work in the same way. [15]
Turmeric is taken with black pepper to improve its bioavailability. The active component of black pepper, piperine enhances absorption of turmeric. [16] [17] Being a bioenhancer, it is also known to improve drug absorption and interfere with drug metabolism. [18] [19] [20]
Moreover, studies have shown the role of piperine alone and in combination with curcumin in reducing blood pressure levels. [21] [22] [23]
Thus, turmeric supplements, black pepper or golden paste taken with blood pressure drugs may have an increased therapeutic action and could lower blood pressure levels.
There are no studies conducted on this, but theoretically, it is thought that turmeric may have an additive effect on blood pressure lowering medicines and abnormally lower blood pressure.
While we wait for more research on this, it is advised to consult a doctor about this and maintain a 3-4 hour gap between taking blood pressure medicines and turmeric supplements/high dose of Golden Paste.
How to Take Turmeric / Curcumin?
There are two most popular ways you can include turmeric. One is by taking the powder (spice) and second is taking turmeric / curcumin supplements. Here are more details on both of them
Turmeric as powder
Taking turmeric powder as part of your diet is one of the best ways to take turmeric and get its benefits. If you are not used to including turmeric as a spice in your food here are two great ways to take it:
- Turmeric / Golden Paste – recipe here>
- Turmeric / Golden Milk – recipe here>
It is important to note that turmeric is poorly absorbed in the body and thus you need to take it with fats (oils) or Black pepper to enhance its absorption in the body. Golden paste does this beautifully, as it has both black pepper and oils in it.
Read: How to improve turmeric absorption>
Here is a quick article on how much turmeric you can take in a day – Turmeric dosage
If you have high blood pressure, here is a dosage guideline for you>
Turmeric powder is very safe, but It is still important to be careful while taking turmeric in certain cases, understand the precautions and possible side effects of turmeric here>
If you plan to buy turmeric powder, but confused about the brands, here is list of brands we recommend>
Turmeric / curcumin supplements
Turmeric / curcumin supplements contain, high % of curcumin, turmeric’s key active ingredients. It is helpful when you are dealing with aggressive medical conditions.
There are several types of turmeric / curcumin supplements on the market. To know more about them and best brands, refer to this comprehensive article>
Lastly, if you have used turmeric along with blood pressure medications, please share your feedback on how you took turmeric, how much, how it went and what all precautions you took. It will be invaluable for other readers.Â
Hi, thank you for a great site!
my blood pressure had been up for quite some time around 135 to 165 over 85 to 90. They had me on the MAX dose of blood pressure PILLS. first losartan then Lisinopril, the latter at 20mg. Not long ago started taking turmeric with ginger, (a spring Valley BRAND). My blood pressure fell immediately to 100 over 60. My doctor quickly adjusted my MEDS down TOO the minimum, 5 MG. My blood pressure now IS constantly around 110 over 70, does drop a bit lower when I exercise (45 to 50 minutes a DAY) but then levels OUT later.
Didn’t want to say, it also had a comment effect on my rosacea reducing it.
Thanks, Jimmy.
HI, I take 100 mg of LOSArtan potassium daily for hypertension, is it safe to take 500 mg OF turmeric TABLETs with this medication.
Thanks.
Hi. It would be best to consult your health practitioner about this. In case you do plan to take turmeric supplements, please maintain 2-3 hour gap between taking turmeric supplements and any medications.
I’ve been using turmeric for many years, now, to ease arthritic pain. initially this was as golden paste – effective but very messy – but as the turmeric / piperine combo arrived in capsule form and my arthritis worsened, i experimented with different brands. i now have the ideal brand, incorporating organic ginger as well, and have been almost totally pain-free for several months,- – no mean feat in our damp, cold winter ! I’m encouraging friends to try, and they’ve had similar success. i do have hypertension, so i leave a gap of several hours before taking the turmeric capsules.
Hi Caroline. Thank you for sharing your experience. We are glad to hear that you have found a combination of turmeric/piperine that suits you and benefits your health significantly. Wish you great health!
I had suffered with knee and shoulder pain for years, and also IBS for over 30 years, I have been taking Autoimmune Turmeric and Black pepper capsules 2 every morning for about 9 months now, my pains have virtually gone, and my IBS systems have reduced greatly. I have recently on Drs advise started on blood pressure tablets, and as yet no sign of any side effects
Thank you for sharing your experience. We are glad to hear that turmeric benefits your health. As a precautionary measure, avoid taking turmeric-piperine tablets very close to the time of taking any other medications to avoid drug interactions. Maintain a 2-3 hour gap. If needed, please consult your doctor about the same.
The West got interested in turmeric because of the statistics about various ailments in countries whose cuisine uses a lot of curry. Turmeric is the main ingredient in any curry; it gives the curry its typical color. But the West, as usual, doesn’t adopt a whole ingredient: We have to be smarter than that, and take just what we figure is the active ingredient.
In the same way the curcumin in turmeric is boosted by oils and black pepper, other ingredients in the curry most likely are part of those wonderful statistics about the turmeric. Duh. And of course there are different ingredients in different countries’ typical curry.
I have cooked with curry since the early Seventies, and I have ideal blood pressure. 120/70. And I have none of the ailments associated with getting older, none at all. Curry is sensual: The whole house smells good when the powder from my can of Sun brand Hot Madras curry is meeting up with some veggies, or with the yolk on some fried eggs, or in a stew, or atop a heap of onion (onion also boosts the turmeric: quercetain).
If you think about it, the people in a culture who adopt some beneficial health practice like curry-turmeric-curcumin over generations are the ones who thrive and reproduce, eventually producing citizens of that culture who are healthier, and who have that beneficial habit.
Coconut oil on lower heat, add chopped onion, let the onion relax and begin to get translucent. Add a lot of good curry and let them get acquainted. Before serving, add the black pepper. Put it on pasta, meat, potatoes, in a sausage sandwich – anything.
Very important task you people are doing. Many plants like turmeric are there in nature which will cure human being safely, cheaply and easily. I like d your efforts very much. I hope you will extend your work up the every corner of the world.
I take BP medication, Ramipril 7.5mg with my first cup of tea between 7 and 7.30. I take Turmeric supplement with my breakfast between 9-9.30 In addition to that I have golden Milk with black pepper cinnamon, ginger and olive oil after my evening meal. My blood pressure remains stable and I have no issues except that my early morning blood pressure is usually higher than the rest of the day. I have been taking the supplements as well as Golden Milk/Golden paste for a number of years now, not just for blood pressure, but mainly for Arthritis. Turmeric has certainly slowed down the progression of Arthitis over the past 3 years since I started taking Turmeric.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Glad to hear that turmeric benefits you!
I do not take blood pressure medication because I do not need it , but , because I have leukemia , I used curcumin supplements as an add-on to the doctor’s treatment (Nilotinib).
I took a large number of curcumin capsules (15-17) divided into 4 daily doses and I found, after a while, that my the tension remained relatively stable but my platelets decreased .
So , I had to reduce the number of supplements to 10 / day.
I have been struggling to get my blood pressure under control. After blood pressure readings of 165/95 and above, my doctor increased my bp medicine to 20 mg lisinopril hydr. After a few weeks my systolic was down to 140 to 160 but the diastolic was still in the 85/95 range. I tried taking 500 mg of turmeric curcumin and have found that on the days that I take that, my bp readings are in the 130/73 range. I have been monitoring this for several weeks and and have found that the 2 days per week that I take the Turmeric, my range drops quickly, then back up on the days that I don’t take it. Not sure if my doctor will approve of this, but I sure feel better and am now sure that it really does work.
Hi Ken. Thanks for sharing this. Glad to hear that turmeric benefits your health.