Drug & supplement interaction

1,3-dmba + Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine

Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine brand name: Aquatab C.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine falls into 2 drug categories that 1,3-dmba can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, combining 1,3-DMBA with other stimulant drugs might increase the risk of cardiovascular toxicity.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

1,3-dmba and Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

1,3-dmba interacts with whole categories of medication. Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with 1,3-dmba in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine

Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine falls under STIMULANT DRUGS — the group 1,3-dmba interacts with.

Theoretically, combining 1,3-DMBA with other stimulant drugs might increase the risk of cardiovascular toxicity.
Animal research shows that 1,3-DMBA has stimulant effects, such as increasing blood pressure and heart rate.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's what jumps out to me about this combo. The cold and cough product you mentioned (Aquatab C) contains pseudoephedrine, which is itself a stimulant decongestant. It already nudges up your heart rate and blood pressure on its own. 1,3-DMBA is a separate, unapproved stimulant, so stacking the two means piling one stimulant on top of another.

The worry here isn't about one drug being broken down faster or slower. It's simply additive: two stimulants together may push your heart and blood pressure higher than either alone, which could mean a racing heartbeat, jitteriness, or chest pressure. This concern is mostly theoretical and based on animal data, but since 1,3-DMBA isn't a safe or legal ingredient anyway, I'd steer clear of it and check with your pharmacist.

References
  1. SWANSON EE, CHEN KK. Comparison of pressor action of alicyclic derivatives of aliphatic amines. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1948 Aug;93(4):423-9.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, 1,3-DMBA might modestly increase the levels of CYP2D6 substrates.
In vitro research shows that 1,3-DMBA weakly inhibits CYP2D6 enzymes.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the small chemistry piece first. Your cold medicine, Aquatab C, contains dextromethorphan, which your liver clears using an enzyme called CYP2D6. Lab (test tube) studies suggest 1,3-DMBA may weakly block that enzyme. If it slows clearance, dextromethorphan could build up a bit, which might mean more drowsiness, dizziness, or feeling foggy. The guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine parts aren't really affected by this pathway.

Honestly, this is a theoretical, minor concern based only on lab data, so the real risk is probably small. My bigger worry is the 1,3-DMBA itself. It's a banned stimulant, and pseudoephedrine is also a stimulant, so stacking them could push your heart rate and blood pressure up. I'd steer clear of 1,3-DMBA and check with your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Liu Y, Santillo MF. Cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 enzyme inhibition by amine stimulants in dietary supplements. Drug Test Anal. 2016;8(3-4):307-10. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

1,3-dmba Also Interacts With Other Medications

1,3-dmba has 171 moderate, 149 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against 1,3-dmba

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against 1,3-dmba. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine

This page covers 1,3-dmba only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine page lists 197 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major) and Peyote (major).

By severity: 8 major · 148 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine page

“A cold and congestion remedy sounds low stakes, but Aquatab C (dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine) earns real caution. Eight of the 197 supplements and herbs on file carry a major rating, and those deserve your attention first.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where 1,3-dmba and Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement 1,3-dmba
Steady interest

#792 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine
Top 10%

#192 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About 1,3-dmba

What is 1,3-dmba?

  • Athletic and workout performance
  • Energy and stimulation
  • Weight loss and fat burning
  • Appetite suppression
  • Focus and concentration

1,3-DMBA is a synthetic stimulant chemically similar to the banned stimulant DMAA, and it is not a proven or safe dietary ingredient. The U.S. FDA considers supplements containing it adulterated, and it is banned in sports. Because of serious heart and stroke risks, it is best to avoid products that contain it.

Read the full 1,3-dmba monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & 1,3-dmba

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against 1,3-dmba — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
171Moderate
149Minor
2,509No known interaction
Moderate

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 moderate interactions — see all 171 on the 1,3-dmba page.

Minor

149 interactions

Showing 60 of 149 minor interactions — see all 149 on the 1,3-dmba page.

No interaction 2,509 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking 1,3-dmba and Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take 1,3-dmba with Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for 1,3-dmba and Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine?
Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine belongs to more than one drug category, and 1,3-dmba interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the 1,3-dmba and Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Psuedoephedrine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.