Rauwolfia Serpentina
Treatment
0 Active Studies for Rauwolfia Serpentina
What is Rauwolfia Serpentina
Rauwolfia serpentina root
The Generic name of this drug
Treatment Summary
Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina) is a medicinal plant native to India. The root of the plant can be made into a powder or taken in tablets or capsules. It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. The active ingredients in Rauwolfia are alkaloids and around 50 have been identified. The primary psychoactive components are believed to be reserpine, rescinnamine, and deserpidine. Reserpine was often prescribed as an antihypertensive medication in the 1950s. In recent years, Rauwolfia has been discontinued due to its side effect
Rauwolfia Serpentina Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Rauwolfia serpentina root
Effectiveness
How Rauwolfia Serpentina Affects Patients
Reserpine is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and severe agitation in people with mental disorders. It belongs to a class of drugs called rauwolfia alkaloids, which work by calming the nervous system, decreasing heart rate and widening the blood vessels.
How Rauwolfia Serpentina works in the body
Reserpine is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It works by blocking norepinephrine, a substance that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Reserpine stops norepinephrine from entering storage vesicles in nerve cells, which causes it to linger in the cytoplasm and be destroyed. This leads to a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as calming effects.
Warnings
There are 20 known major drug interactions with Rauwolfia Serpentina.
Common Rauwolfia Serpentina Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Amifostine
Major
Rauwolfia serpentina root may increase the hypotensive activities of Amifostine.
Angiotensin 1-7
Minor
Rauwolfia serpentina root may increase the hypotensive activities of Angiotensin 1-7.
BQ-123
Minor
Rauwolfia serpentina root may increase the hypotensive activities of BQ-123.
Benazeprilat
Minor
Rauwolfia serpentina root may increase the hypotensive activities of Benazeprilat.
Bietaserpine
Minor
Rauwolfia serpentina root may increase the hypotensive activities of Bietaserpine.
Rauwolfia Serpentina Toxicity & Overdose Risk
The toxic dose of reserpine for mice is 390 mg/kg. Those with a history of GERD or peptic ulcers should be extra cautious when taking this drug, as it can increase acid production in the stomach. Other potential side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, heart rhythm issues, fainting, slow heart rate, difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, rare cases of Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, dizziness, headache, anxiety, depression, bad dreams, dulled senses, muscle aches, weight gain, hearing loss, eye damage, and skin itching. The way reserpine works is by blocking
Patient Q&A Section about rauwolfia serpentina
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.
What is Rauwolfia serpentina used for?
"Many physicians in India used Rauwolfia serpentina to effectively treat hypertension in the 1940s. The plant's usage then spread throughout the world in the 1950s, including to the United States and Canada."
Answered by AI
Does Rauwolfia serpentina lower blood pressure?
"The Rauwolfia alkaloids work by controlling the electrical impulses that travel along certain nerve pathways. By affecting the heart and blood vessels, they are able to lower blood pressure."
Answered by AI
What is the health benefits of serpentina?
"Serpentina has been reported to have therapeutic benefits against various diseases, including hypertension, intestinal disorders, eye diseases, cuts, wounds, splenic diseases, uterine contraction, headache, and skin diseases."
Answered by AI
How do you use Rauwolfia serpentina homeopathy?
"Take 10 drops of the solution in 1/4th cup of water three times a day, or as directed by your physician."
Answered by AI