The short answer
Not known for most blood pressure medicines. In the one human study we found, 10 healthy volunteers took a single dose of nifedipine with and without a turmeric extract, and their nifedipine levels did not change. In rats, curcumin, the main compound in turmeric, raised blood levels of amlodipine and losartan, and made losartan lower blood pressure further.
These studies used extract tablets or pure curcumin, not haldi in food. Cooking amounts are a different exposure, and they have not been tested either. One dose in healthy people says little about months of daily use. If you take blood pressure medicine and want to start turmeric or curcumin capsules, tell your prescribing doctor, and ask whether your blood pressure should be checked more often.
Amlodipine is sold in India as Amlong and telmisartan as Telma. Telmisartan was not tested in any of these studies.
At a glance
| What was seen | How it may work | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| No change in nifedipine levels after one dose taken with turmeric extract[1][5] | Nifedipine is cleared by the liver enzyme CYP3A4; no effect seen in this study | No change detected after a single dose in healthy people | Small clinical study |
| Higher amlodipine levels in rats given curcumin[2] | Slower breakdown of amlodipine in rat liver | More amlodipine in the blood | Animal |
| Higher losartan levels, and lower blood pressure, in rats given curcumin[3][4] | Not established | More losartan in the blood; blood pressure may fall further | Animal |
No listing is not a clearance. A missing interaction here never means a combination is safe.
The evidence, study by study
Crossover study in healthy volunteers, 2008 Small clinical study
Ten healthy volunteers took one 10 mg dose of nifedipine on two occasions two weeks apart, once alone and once with a turmeric extract giving 480 mg of curcuminoids. Peak nifedipine level and total exposure were almost identical (ratios 0.98 and 1.00). The study was open-label and used a single dose of one extract, in people who did not have high blood pressure.[1]
Rat study with amlodipine, 2020 Animal
Six rats per group got amlodipine with or without curcumin beforehand. With curcumin, peak amlodipine level rose from 17.8 to 26.2 micrograms per litre, total exposure roughly doubled, and the drug stayed in the blood longer. Tests on rat liver tissue showed amlodipine broke down more slowly. The authors say studies in people are needed.[2]
Rat study with losartan, 2012 Animal
Rats given curcumin for seven days before a dose of losartan had higher blood levels of losartan and of EXP3174, its active breakdown product. The abstract does not give the number of rats or the size of the change. Animal results show the question is worth asking. They cannot tell us what happens in people.[3]
What your doctor may watch for
- Your blood pressure, and dizziness or feeling faint, which can be signs that it has dropped too far.[5]
What to tell your prescribing doctor
You can read this out, or show them this page:
“I am taking, or planning to take, turmeric or curcumin (name of product, how much) along with my blood pressure medicine. Rat studies found curcumin raised levels of amlodipine and losartan. Should my blood pressure be checked more often?”
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
What about haldi in food, haldi doodh or turmeric tea?
We found no study that tested cooking amounts of haldi, haldi doodh or turmeric tea with blood pressure medicines. They are a different exposure from extract tablets, but that does not mean they have been studied. Mention them to your doctor if you take them daily.[1][2]
Related
Turmeric and blood thinners
Two reports describe a raised INR after turmeric in people on warfarin-type blood thinners. Blood thinners leave little margin.
InteractionGarlic (lahsun) and blood pressure medicines
Aged garlic extract lowered blood pressure further in people already on BP medicines whose pressure was still high. It adds to the drugs' effect.
InteractionMulethi (licorice) and blood pressure medicines
Glycyrrhizin in mulethi raises blood pressure and lowers potassium. It can work against blood pressure medicines, as a regulator and a case report show.
InteractionAshwagandha and blood pressure medicines
We found no study of ashwagandha with a named BP medicine. A US health agency lists BP drugs among those it might interact with.
Sources
- Ikehata M, Ohnishi N, Egami S, Kishi H, Shin Y, Takara K, Tsuchishita Y, Tokuda N, Hori S, Yatani Y, Fujimura Y, Kusumoto M, Tatami R, Yoshioka M, Kuroda K, Yamada S, Yokoyama T. Effects of turmeric extract on the pharmacokinetics of nifedipine after a single oral administration in healthy volunteers. J Diet Suppl. 2008;5(4):401-410. PMID 22436099.
- Jiang N, Zhang M, Meng X, Sun B. Effects of curcumin on the pharmacokinetics of amlodipine in rats and its potential mechanism. Pharm Biol. 2020;58(1):465-468. PMID 32432949.
- Liu AC, Zhao LX, Xing J, Liu T, Du FY, Lou HX. Pre-treatment with curcumin enhances plasma concentrations of losartan and its metabolite EXP3174 in rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2012;35(2):145-150. PMID 22293343.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Turmeric.
- Nifedipine capsules, US prescribing information (DailyMed).
Updated 4 November 2026
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