Drug & supplement interaction

Acacia Rigidula + Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate

Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate brand name: Activella.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Acacia Rigidula has a moderate interaction with Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate. Theoretically, Acacia rigidula products that are adulterated with beta-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA) might increase the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Acacia Rigidula and Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate

Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Acacia Rigidula interacts with.

Theoretically, Acacia rigidula products that are adulterated with beta-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA) might increase the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that BMPEA, an adulterant found in many Acacia rigidula products, inhibits CYP3A4 enzyme by 37%.
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 gist for your Activella (estradiol plus norethindrone). The estrogen part is cleared by an enzyme in your body called CYP3A4. Some Acacia rigidula products have been found to contain a hidden stimulant called BMPEA, and in lab tests that stimulant slowed CYP3A4 down a bit. If that happened in real life, your hormone levels could creep up a little, which might mean more of the usual estrogen-type side effects like breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headaches, or breakthrough bleeding.

I want to be honest about the strength of this: it's only test-tube data, not proven in people, so it's more of a theoretical concern. Still, given the safety worries around these products in general, I'd skip Acacia rigidula and check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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

Acacia Rigidula Also Interacts With Other Medications

Acacia Rigidula has 812 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate 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 Acacia Rigidula

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Acacia Rigidula. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate

This page covers Acacia Rigidula only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate page lists 212 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 171 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate page

“Activella pairs estradiol with norethindrone as hormone therapy, and because the treatment depends on steady hormone levels in the blood, supplements that raise or lower those levels warrant real scrutiny. Three of the 212 interacting ingredients rate major, and all three hit that weak point: St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Acacia Rigidula and Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate 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 Acacia Rigidula
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate
Steady interest

#2,265 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 Acacia Rigidula

What is Acacia Rigidula?

Acacia Rigidula
  • Weight loss
  • Energy and stimulation
  • Boosting metabolism
  • Appetite control
  • Pre-workout/athletic performance

Acacia rigidula is a shrub from Texas and Mexico that is marketed in weight-loss and energy supplements. There is very little reliable human evidence that it works, and some products have been found to contain an unapproved stimulant drug (BMPEA), which raises real safety concerns. Most people should avoid it and talk to a pharmacist or doctor before trying any product containing it.

Read the full Acacia Rigidula monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Acacia Rigidula

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Acacia Rigidula — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
812Moderate
0Minor
2,017No known interaction
Moderate

812 interactions

Showing 60 of 812 moderate interactions — see all 812 on the Acacia Rigidula page.

No interaction 2,017 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 Acacia Rigidula and Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Acacia Rigidula with Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate?
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 Acacia Rigidula and Estradiol, Norethindrone Acetate 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.