Drug & supplement interaction

1,4-dmaa + Phenylpropanolamine

Phenylpropanolamine brand names: Dexatrim, Propagest, Revive Diet Aid, Mini Thin Diet Aid, Mini Slims, and others.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

1,4-dmaa has a moderate interaction with Phenylpropanolamine. 1,4-DMAA is thought to have stimulant and vasoconstrictive effects, which have been demonstrated in animal studies.

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

1,4-dmaa and Phenylpropanolamine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Phenylpropanolamine

Phenylpropanolamine falls under STIMULANT DRUGS — the group 1,4-dmaa interacts with.

1,4-DMAA is thought to have stimulant and vasoconstrictive effects, which have been demonstrated in animal studies. Theoretically, taking 1,4-DMAA with stimulant drugs might increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular effects. Some stimulant drugs include amphetamine, caffeine, diethylpropion (Tenuate), methylphenidate, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, others), and many others.
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 the simple version: both of these are stimulants that push your blood vessels to tighten and nudge your blood pressure and heart rate upward. Phenylpropanolamine works a lot like a decongestant and appetite suppressant, narrowing vessels and raising pressure on its own. Stack 1,4-DMAA on top, and you're essentially doubling up on those same effects. The worry is the heart and blood vessel side: a racing or pounding heartbeat, a spike in blood pressure, headache, jitteriness, or in rare cases something more serious.

To be fair, this is a theoretical concern based on how these compounds behave, not on big human studies of the two together. But I'd still steer clear. The FDA considers 1,4-DMAA unsafe and not legal in supplements, and I genuinely recommend avoiding it altogether. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining anything like this.

References
  1. Cohen PA, Travis JC, Keizers PHJ, Deuster P, Venhuis BJ. Four experimental stimulants found in sports and weight loss supplements: 2-amino-6-methylheptane (octodrine), 1,4-dimethylamylamine (1,4-DMAA), 1,3-dimethylamylamine (1,3-DMAA) and 1,3-dimethylbuty

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

1,4-dmaa Also Interacts With Other Medications

1,4-dmaa has 171 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Phenylpropanolamine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against 1,4-dmaa

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against 1,4-dmaa. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Phenylpropanolamine

This page covers 1,4-dmaa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenylpropanolamine page lists 62 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Peyote (major), Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major) and Sida Cordifolia (major).

By severity: 5 major · 44 moderate · 13 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenylpropanolamine page

“Phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Propagest) is a stimulant decongestant and diet aid that raises blood pressure on its own, so I read its supplement interactions with real vigilance. Of the 62 ingredients on file, 44 are stimulants themselves, and stacking them can push heart rate and blood pressure into risky territory.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenylpropanolamine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where 1,4-dmaa and Phenylpropanolamine 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 1,4-dmaa
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Phenylpropanolamine
Steady interest

#2,481 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 1,4-dmaa

What is 1,4-dmaa?

  • Energy and stimulation
  • Weight loss
  • Athletic performance
  • Focus and concentration

1,4-DMAA is a synthetic stimulant that the U.S. FDA has determined is not a legal dietary ingredient and considers unsafe in supplements. It has been linked to serious heart and blood pressure problems, and we recommend avoiding it entirely.

Read the full 1,4-dmaa monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & 1,4-dmaa

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against 1,4-dmaa — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
171Moderate
0Minor
2,658No known interaction
Moderate

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 moderate interactions — see all 171 on the 1,4-dmaa page.

No interaction 2,658 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 1,4-dmaa and Phenylpropanolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take 1,4-dmaa with Phenylpropanolamine?
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.
How serious is the 1,4-dmaa and Phenylpropanolamine 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.