Drug & supplement interaction

Andiroba + Ethosuximide

Ethosuximide brand name: Zarontin.

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

Andiroba has a minor interaction with Ethosuximide. 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 Ethosuximide

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

Minor

Anticonvulsants

Why this applies to Ethosuximide

Ethosuximide 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 short version: andiroba contains some natural compounds that, in animal studies, seem to gently calm the brain by nudging the same GABA system that many seizure medicines work on. The thought is that pairing it with ethosuximide (Zarontin) could, in theory, add to that calming effect and make ethosuximide's usual side effects a little stronger, things like drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, or feeling foggy.

I want to be honest with you though: this is a theoretical concern based on lab and animal work, not real human reports. It's rated minor and unlikely. Andiroba is also used mostly on the skin, and topical use is far less likely to matter than swallowing it. Still, please run it by your pharmacist or neurologist before using andiroba internally, especially since your seizure control is important.

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 Ethosuximide 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. Ethosuximide)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethosuximide

This page covers Andiroba only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethosuximide page lists 226 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 Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 9 major · 179 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethosuximide page

“Ethosuximide (Zarontin) prevents absence seizures, and a steady blood level is what keeps them away, so I treat this list of 226 interacting supplements and herbs with real care, especially the nine rated major. More than half of the entries can change how the liver clears the drug; grapefruit can raise its level while St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethosuximide interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Andiroba and Ethosuximide 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 Ethosuximide
Steady interest

#2,314 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 Ethosuximide

What Is Ethosuximide Used For?

Brand name: Zarontin

Ethosuximide — sold as Zarontin and also available as generic Ethosuximide — is used to control absence (petit mal) epilepsy. Absence seizures are brief episodes where a person loses awareness for a few seconds, often mistaken for daydreaming.

Both Zarontin and Ethosuximide products (capsule and oral solution forms) are approved for this use. Either may also be used alongside other seizure medicines when a patient has absence seizures together with other types of epilepsy.

See full Ethosuximide 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 Ethosuximide, 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 Ethosuximide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethosuximide, ranked by severity Ethosuximide 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 Ethosuximide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Andiroba with Ethosuximide?
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 Ethosuximide 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

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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.