Herbal supplements are used by many people because they are "natural" and are perceived as safe. Milk thistle can be used to treat liver problems, and while it can interact with some medications, it does not appear to interact with blood pressure medications. However, if you are taking milk thistle for liver problems, some kinds of blood pressure medication may not be safe.
About Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean but can be found throughout the world. It has been used for over 2,000 years as an herbal medication, particularly in the treatment of gallbladder and liver problems. Milk thistle contains a compound known as silymarin, which can be used to treat alcohol-induced liver damage and hepatitis C, although it is not clear how effective milk thistle is for treating these conditions.
Milk Thistle and the Liver
Although milk thistle itself does not have any known major side effects, it can be dangerous when combined with some medications. Milk thistle affects the way your liver functions and slows the activity of certain enzymes in the liver. These enzymes allow your liver to break down different substances in your blood, including some medications. The reduced activity of these enzymes is responsible for the drug interactions of milk thistle.
Drug Interactions
Milk thistle can interact with many different medications, including phenytoin, halothane, certain antipsychotics, statins, antianxiety drugs and the allergy medication fenofexadine. These are all medications that are broken down by the liver, and using milk thistle may slow the rate at which these drugs are metabolized. This will increase the concentration of the drug that appears in the blood and can increase the side effects of these drugs. However, there do not appear to be any interactions between milk thistle and medications for high blood pressure.
Considerations
Although milk thistle does not appear to interact with any blood pressure medications, if you are taking milk thistle for liver problems you may need to avoid certain medications, including the hypertension drug methyldopa. Methyldopa can cause liver damage, particularly if you already have liver problems. Talk to your doctor before taking milk thistle or any other supplement.
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