NutriStack
Alprazolam and Passionflower, a caution.
Passionflower has measurable anxiolytic and GABA-related CNS activity. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine sedative, so the combination may cause more drowsiness, impaired coordination, slowed reaction time, or unsafe driving. Risk is higher with alcohol, opioids, sleep medicines, older age, sleep apnea, or dose escalation.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Alprazolam and Passionflower
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Emerging
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Emerging evidence
Caution
What is happening. Passionflower has measurable anxiolytic and GABA-related CNS activity. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine sedative, so the combination may cause more drowsiness, impaired coordination, slowed reaction time, or unsafe driving. Risk is higher with alcohol, opioids, sleep medicines, older age, sleep apnea, or dose escalation.
Mechanism. Passionflower extracts can produce GABA(A)-related currents and have clinical anxiolytic effects. Alprazolam positively modulates GABA(A) receptors through the benzodiazepine site, creating additive CNS-depressant potential.
Recommendation. Avoid combining passionflower with alprazolam unless your prescriber agrees. If used, start with the lowest possible supplement dose, avoid alcohol and other sedatives, and do not drive until you know the combined effect. Seek urgent help for extreme sleepiness, confusion, falls, or slowed breathing.
Sources (2)
- Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A, Rashidi H, Khani M. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001;26(5):363-367. PMID 11679026
- Elsas SM, Rossi DJ, Raber J, White G, Seeley CA, Gregory WL, et al. Passiflora incarnata L. extracts elicit GABA currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro, and show anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying with extraction method. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(12):940-949. PMID 20382514
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alprazolam and Passionflower are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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