Drug & supplement interaction

African Wild Potato + Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine brand name: Aleve Cold and Sinus.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine falls into 4 drug categories that African Wild Potato can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. In vitro evidence shows that African wild potato extract inhibits OAT3.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions4
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

African Wild Potato and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

These two interact in 4 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 4 Interactions?

African Wild Potato interacts with whole categories of medication. Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine falls into 4 of those categories, so it can interact with African Wild Potato in 4 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ORGANIC ANION TRANSPORTER 3 (OAT3) SUBSTRATES

1 of 4

Why this applies to Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine falls under ORGANIC ANION TRANSPORTER 3 (OAT3) SUBSTRATES — the group African Wild Potato interacts with.

In vitro evidence shows that African wild potato extract inhibits OAT3. This drug transport protein is involved in renal tubular uptake of some drugs from the blood and then elimination in the urine. Inhibition of this transporter decreases renal elimination and increases drug levels in the body. The clinical significance of this in humans is not known.
Some substrates of OAT3 include cephalosporins, famotidine (Pepcid), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), methotrexate, NSAIDs, probenecid, ranitidine (Zantac).
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 Aleve Cold and Sinus, which pairs naproxen (an anti-inflammatory pain reliever) with pseudoephedrine (a decongestant). Your kidneys use a transporter called OAT3 to help clear naproxen out through your urine. In lab tests (test tube only, not people), African Wild Potato slowed that transporter down. In theory, that could let a bit more naproxen linger in your body.

If that happened, you might notice more of naproxen's usual downsides: stomach upset, heartburn, or, with longer use, extra stress on the kidneys. I want to be honest though, this is very early evidence and we don't know if it matters in real people. I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but do mention both to your pharmacist before combining them.

References
  1. Fasinu PS, Gutmann H, Schiller H, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B. The potential of Hypoxis hemerocallidea for herb-drug interaction. Pharm Biol. 2013 Dec;51(12):1499-507.
Moderate

ORGANIC ANION TRANSPORTER 1 (OAT1) SUBSTRATES

2 of 4

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine also falls under ORGANIC ANION TRANSPORTER 1 (OAT1) SUBSTRATES.

In vitro research shows that African wild potato extract inhibits OAT1. This drug transport protein is involved in renal tubular uptake of some drugs from the blood and then elimination in the urine. Inhibition of this transporter decreases renal elimination and increases drug levels in the body. The clinical significance of this in humans is not known.
Some substrates of OAT1 include acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cephalosporins, cidofovir (Vistide), cimetidine (Tagamet), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), NSAIDs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), pravastatin (Pravachol), probenecid, simvastatin (Zocor), and zidovudine (Retrovir).
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 Aleve Cold and Sinus, which pairs naproxen (an anti-inflammatory pain reliever) with pseudoephedrine (a decongestant). The naproxen part is partly cleared by your kidneys through a transporter called OAT1. In lab studies, African Wild Potato appears to block that transporter, which could slow how fast naproxen leaves your body and let levels creep up a bit.

If that happened, you might notice more of naproxen's usual downsides, like stomach upset, heartburn, fluid retention, or added strain on the kidneys. I'll be honest though: this is only test-tube evidence, and we don't know if it matters in real people. Still, if you have kidney issues, high blood pressure, or a history of ulcers, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Fasinu PS, Gutmann H, Schiller H, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B. The potential of Hypoxis hemerocallidea for herb-drug interaction. Pharm Biol. 2013 Dec;51(12):1499-507.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

3 of 4

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

In vitro research shows that African wild potato extract inhibits cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2). However, this effect has yet to be reported in humans. Until more is known, use with caution. Theoretically, concomitant use of African wild potato with CYP1A2 substrates might increase the risk for adverse effects from these substrates. Some of these drugs include amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, others), and 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 gist with Aleve Cold and Sinus (naproxen plus pseudoephedrine). In test tube studies, African wild potato slowed down a liver enzyme called CYP1A2. If that same slowdown happened in people, a drug cleared by this enzyme could build up a bit and hit harder than expected. For naproxen, that might mean more stomach upset, heartburn, or irritation; for the pseudoephedrine side, you could notice extra jitteriness, a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or higher blood pressure.

The honest part: this is only lab data, never shown in real people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, since pseudoephedrine already revs you up, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them, especially if you have heart or blood pressure concerns.

References
  1. Fasinu PS, Gutmann H, Schiller H, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B. The potential of Hypoxis hemerocallidea for herb-drug interaction. Pharm Biol. 2013 Dec;51(12):1499-507.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

4 of 4

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

In vitro research shows that African wild potato extract inhibits cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9). However, this effect has yet to be reported in humans. Until more is known, use with caution. Theoretically, concomitant use of African wild potato with CYP2C9 substrates might increase the risk for adverse effects from these substrates. Some of these drugs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), ibuprofen (Motrin), meloxicam (Mobic), and piroxicam (Feldene); celecoxib (Celebrex); amitriptyline (Elavil); warfarin (Coumadin); glipizide (Glucotrol); losartan (Cozaar); and 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 gist for Aleve Cold and Sinus. The naproxen part of this product is cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. In test-tube studies, African Wild Potato appears to slow that enzyme down. If that played out in real life, your body could hold onto naproxen a bit longer than usual, which may nudge up the chance of typical naproxen side effects like stomach upset, heartburn, an upset gut, or, with heavier use, stomach irritation or bleeding.

I want to be honest about the strength here: this is only laboratory data, and it hasn't been shown in actual people, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. The pseudoephedrine half isn't really involved in this enzyme pathway. Still, if you take this regularly, run it past your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two.

References
  1. Fasinu PS, Gutmann H, Schiller H, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B. The potential of Hypoxis hemerocallidea for herb-drug interaction. Pharm Biol. 2013 Dec;51(12):1499-507.

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

African Wild Potato Also Interacts With Other Medications

African Wild Potato has 1,004 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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 African Wild Potato

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

This page covers African Wild Potato only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine page lists 334 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 Ephedra (major).

By severity: 11 major · 279 moderate · 44 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine page

“Aleve Cold and Sinus pairs naproxen, an anti-inflammatory painkiller, with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that acts as a mild stimulant, and that combination is why its supplement list runs to 334 entries and deserves real vigilance. The two biggest themes mirror the two drugs.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking African Wild Potato as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1 real supplement products containing African Wild Potato, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides African Wild Potato. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine too, on top of African Wild Potato — 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 African Wild Potato and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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 African Wild Potato
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine
Steady interest

#1,640 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 African Wild Potato

What is African Wild Potato?

  • Immune support
  • Prostate and urinary symptoms
  • Inflammation
  • General tonic/wellness
  • Skin conditions

African Wild Potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea) is a southern African plant traditionally used as a tonic and for immune, prostate, and inflammatory complaints. Human evidence for these uses is very limited, and safety—especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or with serious illness—is not well established. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full African Wild Potato monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & African Wild Potato

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

0Major
1,004Moderate
0Minor
1,825No known interaction
Moderate

1,004 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,004 moderate interactions — see all 1,004 on the African Wild Potato page.

No interaction 1,825 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked African Wild Potato against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,825 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full African Wild Potato 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 African Wild Potato and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take African Wild Potato with Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine?
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 4 interactions listed for African Wild Potato and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine?
Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine belongs to more than one drug category, and African Wild Potato 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 African Wild Potato and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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.