Drug & supplement interaction

Andiroba + Divalproex Sodium

Divalproex Sodium brand name: Depakote.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated February 2024
The bottom line Minor

Andiroba has a minor interaction with Divalproex Sodium. Andiroba contains fatty acid amides that have shown potential anticonvulsant effects in animal studies.

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

Andiroba and Divalproex Sodium

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

Minor

Anticonvulsants

Why this applies to Divalproex Sodium

Divalproex Sodium falls under Anticonvulsants — the group Andiroba interacts with.

Andiroba contains fatty acid amides that have shown potential anticonvulsant effects in animal studies. These compounds are believed to act as agonists at gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptors, similar to some anticonvulsant medications. There is a theoretical possibility that combining andiroba with anticonvulsants that also act on GABA receptors could enhance their effects, potentially leading to increased side effects (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32164340). However, it's important to note that this is based on theoretical considerations, and more studies are needed to understand the actual interaction between andiroba and anticonvulsants in humans.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist with Depakote (divalproex sodium) and andiroba oil. Some compounds in andiroba seem to nudge the same calming GABA system in the brain that your seizure or mood medicine works on. On paper, stacking two things that both quiet brain activity could add up, which might mean a little more drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, or feeling foggy.

The honest truth is that this is a theoretical concern drawn from animal and lab work, not from people taking both together. The interaction is rated minor and unlikely, and andiroba is mostly used on the skin, where very little gets into your body. Still, since Depakote is a serious medicine, it's worth mentioning andiroba to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you'd ever take it internally.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

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

Andiroba Also Interacts With Other Medications

Andiroba has 49 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Divalproex Sodium one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Minor 49 No known interaction 2,781 (incl. Divalproex Sodium)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Andiroba

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Andiroba or Divalproex Sodium

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

This page covers Andiroba only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Divalproex Sodium page lists 134 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 7 major · 110 moderate · 17 minor.

Open the Divalproex Sodium interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Andiroba and Divalproex Sodium 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 Andiroba
Steady interest

#1,447 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Divalproex Sodium
Top 25%

#441 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 Andiroba

What is Andiroba?

Andiroba
  • Skin care and wound healing
  • Insect repellent
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Anti-inflammatory skin conditions
  • Hair and scalp care

Andiroba is an oil pressed from the seeds of an Amazonian tree, used mainly on the skin for inflammation, minor wounds, aches, and as an insect repellent. Most evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies, so its benefits in people are not well proven. It is most often used topically; avoid internal use and use during pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.

Read the full Andiroba monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Valproic Acid

What Is Valproic Acid Used For?

Brand name: Depakote

Valproic acid capsules (brands Valproic and Valproic Acid) and valproic acid oral solution (brand Valproic Acid) are both used to treat epilepsy. Specifically, they are approved for complex partial seizures (either alone or with other seizure types) as monotherapy or add-on therapy, and for simple and complex absence seizures as sole therapy or add-on therapy.

Both forms are intended for adults and pediatric patients. Always follow your prescriber's guidance on which product and regimen is right for you.

See full Valproic Acid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Andiroba

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

0Major
0Moderate
49Minor
2,780No known interaction
49 Minor 2,780 No interaction
Minor

49 interactions

No interaction 2,780 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,780 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Andiroba list.

See the full Andiroba interactions page
See every supplement checked against Divalproex Sodium, ranked by severity
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
Andiroba monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Divalproex Sodium supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Divalproex Sodium, ranked by severity Valproic Acid drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Andiroba and Divalproex Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Andiroba with Divalproex Sodium?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Andiroba and Divalproex Sodium interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Divalproex Sodium and Andiroba?

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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.