Drug & supplement interaction

Aconite + Diclofenac Potassium

Diclofenac Potassium brand names: Voltaren Rapide, Cataflam, Cataflam IR, Voltarol Rapid, Cambia.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Aconite has a moderate interaction with Diclofenac Potassium. Theoretically, combining aconite with other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

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

Aconite and Diclofenac Potassium

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Diclofenac Potassium

Diclofenac Potassium falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Aconite interacts with.

Theoretically, combining aconite with other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Higenamine, a constituent of aconite, is thought to have antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. In an animal model of thrombosis, higenamine inhibited platelet aggregation and reduced the size of thrombus formation.
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 with diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren Rapide) and aconite. Diclofenac is an NSAID, and like other drugs in that family it can already nudge up your bleeding risk by affecting how platelets stick together and by irritating the stomach lining. A compound in aconite called higenamine may have its own mild blood-thinning, anti-clotting action. Put the two together and, in theory, you could see a bit more bruising, nosebleeds, or stomach bleeding.

That said, this concern comes only from lab and animal studies, so it's theoretical, not something proven in people. The bigger worry with aconite is that it's genuinely poisonous on its own. Please don't use any aconite product without first checking with your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Zhao D, Wang J, Cui Y, Wu X. Pharmacological effects of Chinese herb aconite (fuzi) on cardiovascular system. J Tradit Chin Med. 2012 Sep;32(3):308-13. 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

Aconite Also Interacts With Other Medications

Aconite has 277 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Diclofenac Potassium 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 Aconite

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Aconite or Diclofenac Potassium

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Aconite or Diclofenac Potassium, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Diclofenac Potassium

This page covers Aconite only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diclofenac Potassium page lists 306 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

Open the Diclofenac Potassium interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Aconite as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 56 real supplement products containing Aconite, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Aconite. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Diclofenac Potassium too, on top of Aconite — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Aconite and Diclofenac Potassium 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 Aconite
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Diclofenac Potassium
Top half

#1,142 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 Aconite

What is Aconite?

Aconite
  • Pain and nerve pain
  • Fever and cold or flu symptoms
  • Anxiety and restlessness (homeopathic use)
  • Inflammation and joint pain
  • Heart-related complaints (traditional use)

Aconite is a highly poisonous plant, and even small amounts of the raw or improperly processed root can cause severe, life-threatening reactions. There is no good scientific evidence that it safely treats any condition, and the only forms generally considered acceptable are extremely diluted homeopathic preparations. We strongly recommend avoiding raw or unprocessed aconite entirely and talking to a pharmacist or doctor before using any product containing it.

Read the full Aconite monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Diclofenac

What Is Diclofenac Used For?

Brand names: Voltaren Rapide, Cataflam, Cataflam IR, Voltarol Rapid, Cambia

Diclofenac sodium topical gel is used to treat actinic keratoses (AK) — rough, scaly skin patches that form after years of sun exposure. These patches are considered precancerous, meaning they can develop into skin cancer if left untreated.

This is a topical gel, meaning it is applied directly to the skin over the affected area rather than taken by mouth. It belongs to the NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) family.

See full Diclofenac drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Aconite

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

0Major
277Moderate
0Minor
2,552No known interaction
Moderate

277 interactions

Showing 60 of 277 moderate interactions — see all 277 on the Aconite page.

No interaction 2,552 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Aconite and Diclofenac Potassium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Aconite with Diclofenac Potassium?
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 Aconite and Diclofenac Potassium 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

Still Have a Question About Diclofenac Potassium and Aconite?

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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.