Drug & supplement interaction

Andiroba + Lorazepam

Lorazepam brand name: Ativan.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Andiroba has a minor interaction with Lorazepam. 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 Lorazepam

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

Minor

Anticonvulsants

Why this applies to Lorazepam

Lorazepam 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: Lorazepam (Ativan) works by boosting GABA, the brain's natural calming signal. Some compounds in andiroba oil have been shown, in lab and animal studies, to nudge those same GABA-A receptors. The thinking is that stacking the two could add up, in theory leaving you more drowsy, dizzy, or foggy than Ativan alone, with slower reaction times.

That said, this is a very theoretical concern. The evidence is weak, it hasn't been shown in people, and andiroba is mostly used on the skin, where little gets into your bloodstream. So real-world risk looks low. Still, if you plan to swallow andiroba (which I'd generally avoid), or you notice extra sleepiness, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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 Lorazepam 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 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 Lorazepam

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 Lorazepam, 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 Lorazepam

This page covers Andiroba only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lorazepam page lists 119 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: 8 major · 94 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lorazepam page

“Lorazepam (Ativan) works by slowing brain activity, and that is exactly why this list deserves real caution. Of the 119 supplement and herbal ingredients on file, 78 are themselves nervous-system depressants, so adding them can deepen drowsiness or, at the extreme, slow breathing.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lorazepam interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Andiroba and Lorazepam 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 Lorazepam
Top 25%

#481 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 Lorazepam

What Is Lorazepam Used For?

Brand name: Ativan

Lorazepam tablets (Ativan and generic) and the oral solution are used to manage anxiety disorders or for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms, including anxiety that comes with depressive symptoms. Loreev XR, an extended-release capsule, is specifically indicated for adults with anxiety disorders who are already stable on lorazepam tablets taken three times daily.

Ativan and generic lorazepam injections are used in two additional situations: treating status epilepticus (a medical emergency involving prolonged or repeated seizures) and as a pre-surgery medication in adults to produce sedation, ease anxiety, and reduce memory of events on the day of surgery.

See full Lorazepam 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
Minor

49 interactions

No interaction 2,780 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 Andiroba and Lorazepam Together: Common Questions

Can you take Andiroba with Lorazepam?
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 Lorazepam 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.