The short answer
Not known in people. We found no study of tulsi with sedatives or sleeping pills in people. In a 1990 mouse study, tulsi leaf extract made the sedative pentobarbital act for longer. The Merck Manual, drawing on animal work, notes that holy basil may increase the effect of certain sedatives.
The mouse study did not test benzodiazepines such as alprazolam or clonazepam, or zolpidem, so the effect with these medicines is not known. If you take a sleeping pill or an anti-anxiety medicine, tell your prescribing doctor before you start tulsi capsules or extracts, and mention any extra drowsiness you notice.
Common sedatives in India include alprazolam (Alprax), clonazepam (Clonotril), lorazepam (Lorapax), diazepam (Calmpose) and zolpidem (Zolfresh).
At a glance
| What was seen | How it may work | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pentobarbital's sedation lasted longer in mice given tulsi[1][2] | Added effect on the brain; route not established | Stronger or longer sedation | Animal |
No listing is not a clearance. A missing interaction here never means a combination is safe.
The evidence, study by study
Mouse study, 1990 Animal
Mice given an ethanol extract of tulsi leaf stayed sedated for longer after a dose of pentobarbital, a barbiturate, than mice without tulsi. The abstract gives no numbers of animals, doses or how much longer the effect lasted. Animal results show the question is worth asking. They cannot tell us what happens in people.[1]
What your doctor may watch for
- Extra sleepiness, unsteadiness or slower reactions, especially in the morning or when driving. This is inferred from the animal finding, not measured in people.[1]
What to tell your prescribing doctor
You can read this out, or show them this page:
“I am taking, or planning to take, tulsi (tea, leaves, capsules or extract, and how much) along with my sleeping or anxiety medicine. An animal study found tulsi made a sedative work for longer. Is the combination a concern for me, and what should I watch for?”
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
Does holy basil make you sleepy?
We found no human study that measured drowsiness from tulsi. The sedative effect on this page was seen in mice given leaf extract together with a sedative drug.[1]
Is tulsi tea different from tulsi capsules here?
The study on this page did not compare them. The mouse study used a leaf extract, and a cup of tea is a different exposure, though it has not been tested either.[1]
Related
Anxiety and sleep problems: what Ayurveda offers
Ashwagandha extracts improved sleep a little and lowered stress scores in short trials. They were not trials in diagnosed anxiety disorder.
InteractionAshwagandha with sleeping pills and benzodiazepines
Not studied in people. Ashwagandha may have sedative effects that add to benzodiazepines and sleeping pills, based on preclinical work.
InteractionBrahmi and sedatives or sleeping pills
Not tested in people. In lab tests brahmi slowed enzymes that clear some sedatives, so the effect on drowsiness is unknown.
InteractionTulsi and paracetamol
No study has tested tulsi with paracetamol in people. A rat study used tulsi before a toxic paracetamol dose, which says little about everyday use.
Sources
- Sakina MR, Dandiya PC, Hamdard ME, Hameed A. Preliminary psychopharmacological evaluation of Ocimum sanctum leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990;28(2):143-150. PMID 2329804.
- Merck Manual, Consumer Version. Holy Basil. Reviewed July 2025.
Updated 4 November 2026
Taking tulsi with other medicines? A vaidya can check your full list.
Medicine Check · ₹299