Drug & supplement interaction

Aletris + Esterified Estrogens

Esterified Estrogens brand names: Menest, Estratab.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Aletris has a moderate interaction with Esterified Estrogens. Aletris might have estrogenic effects. Theoretically, use of aletris with estrogens might increase the risk for additive adverse effects.

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

Aletris and Esterified Estrogens

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

Moderate

ESTROGENS

Why this applies to Esterified Estrogens

Esterified Estrogens falls under ESTROGENS — the group Aletris interacts with.

Aletris might have estrogenic effects. Theoretically, use of aletris with estrogens might increase the risk for additive adverse effects.
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: Aletris contains plant compounds that, in lab studies, seem to act a little like estrogen. Since esterified estrogens (Menest, Estratab) are already giving your body estrogen, stacking an herb with mild estrogen-like activity on top could, in theory, add to those effects. That might mean more of the usual estrogen-related complaints, like breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headaches, or spotting.

I want to be honest about how weak this evidence is. It's theoretical, based on how the herb might behave, not on real human studies, and Aletris itself is barely researched. So I'm not raising alarms here. Still, two estrogen-acting things together is worth a quick chat. Please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.

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

Aletris Also Interacts With Other Medications

Aletris has 40 moderate, 36 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Esterified Estrogens 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 Aletris

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Aletris or Esterified Estrogens

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Aletris or Esterified Estrogens, 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 Esterified Estrogens

This page covers Aletris only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Esterified Estrogens page lists 182 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), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 144 moderate · 35 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Esterified Estrogens page

“If you take esterified estrogens (Menest, Estratab) for menopause symptoms, this page deserves a careful, unhurried read, and the three major-rated entries come first. Grapefruit slows how your body clears the hormone, raising its level and side effects, while St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Esterified Estrogens interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Aletris, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Aletris. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Esterified Estrogens too, on top of Aletris — 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 Aletris and Esterified Estrogens 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 Aletris
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Esterified Estrogens
Steady interest

#1,653 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 Aletris

What is Aletris?

Aletris
  • Menstrual complaints
  • Digestive upset and colic
  • Loss of appetite
  • Female reproductive tonic
  • Rheumatic discomfort

Aletris (true unicorn root or colic root) is a North American herb traditionally used for menstrual problems and digestive complaints, but there is little to no modern human research to show it works. Because safety is poorly studied, it should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and anyone considering it should first talk with a pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Aletris monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Estrogen

What Is Estrogen Used For?

Brand names: Menest, Estratab

Based on the available product information, this Estrogen product is intended for external use on the skin — specifically the face, neck, or body. It is applied as part of a daily skincare routine.

For any specific medical concerns, the label recommends consulting a healthcare provider before use.

See full Estrogen drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Aletris

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

0Major
40Moderate
36Minor
2,753No known interaction
Moderate

40 interactions

Minor

36 interactions

No interaction 2,753 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 Aletris and Esterified Estrogens Together: Common Questions

Can you take Aletris with Esterified Estrogens?
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 Aletris and Esterified Estrogens 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 Esterified Estrogens and Aletris?

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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.