Passionflower is a plant used medicinally to treat insomnia, nervous stomach, anxiety and a variety of other conditions. However, the effectiveness and safety of passionflower is unproven. Passionflower can cause adverse effects. Talk to your doctor before taking passionflower.
Common Side Effects
Passionflower can cause dizziness, confusion, muscle and coordination problems; changes in consciousness, and inflamed blood vessels. There has also been one report of passionflower causing nausea, vomiting, rapid and abnormal heartbeat; and sleepiness. Passionflower may be unsafe when taken in high doses or for longer than a month, reports MedlinePlus.
Warnings
Passionflower is unsafe for pregnant women because it contains chemicals that may cause the uterus to contract. You should also avoid passionflower if you are breastfeeding because there isn't enough safety data showing whether it is safe for the baby or not. If you are scheduled for surgery, you should stop taking passionflower at least two weeks before the operation because it affects the central nervous system and might alter the effects of anesthesia and other medications given during surgery.
Potential Drug Interactions
Because passionflower might cause sleepiness, it should not be combined with sedatives, because it might make the sedative effects of such medications dangerously. Do not take passionflower in combination with pentobarbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, clonazepam, lorazepam, zolpidem, phenytoin, alprazolam, zaleplon, eszopiclone and ramelteon. In addition, it's best to avoid taking passionflower in combination with other herbs that may cause sleepiness such as calamus, California poppy, catnip, hops, Jamaican dogwood, kava, St. John's wort, skullcap and valerian. Passionflower may also increase the risk of side effects when taken in combination with blood thinners or antidepressants, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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