Drug & supplement interaction

Andrographis + Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab brand name: Actemra.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Andrographis has a moderate interaction with Tocilizumab. Theoretically, andrographis might interfere with the effects of immunosuppressive drugs.

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

Andrographis and Tocilizumab

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

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Andrographis interacts with.

Theoretically, andrographis might interfere with the effects of immunosuppressive drugs.
Laboratory research suggests that andrographolide has immunostimulant activity.
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 idea behind this pairing. Tocilizumab (Actemra) works by calming down an overactive immune system, which is exactly what you want in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or giant cell arteritis. Andrographis, on the other hand, may gently nudge the immune system in the opposite direction. Lab studies suggest its main compounds (andrographolides) can act as immune stimulants. So in theory, the herb could work against what your medication is trying to do, possibly making your arthritis symptoms (joint pain, swelling, stiffness) less well controlled.

I want to be honest about how soft this evidence is. It comes from test-tube and animal research only, not real-world human studies, so we don't truly know if it matters in people. Still, since you're relying on Tocilizumab to keep things in check, it's worth a quick chat with your doctor or pharmacist before adding Andrographis.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Puri A, Saxena R, Saxena RP, et al. Immunostimulant agents from Andrographis paniculata. J Nat Prod 1993;56:995-9. PubMed

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

Andrographis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Andrographis has 407 moderate, 5 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Tocilizumab one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 407 Minor 5 No known interaction 2,418 (incl. Tocilizumab)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Andrographis

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Tocilizumab

This page covers Andrographis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tocilizumab page lists 89 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate) and Alfalfa (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 85 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tocilizumab page

“Tocilizumab (Actemra) calms an overactive immune system in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and it is also known to strain the liver, which is exactly where its supplement interactions concentrate. This page deserves genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tocilizumab interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 656 real supplement products containing Andrographis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Andrographis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Tocilizumab too, on top of Andrographis — 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 Andrographis and Tocilizumab 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 Andrographis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Tocilizumab
Top half

#1,196 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 Andrographis

What is Andrographis?

Andrographis
  • Common cold and flu symptoms
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Immune support
  • Digestive complaints

Andrographis is a bitter Asian herb traditionally used for colds, flu, and infections, and some studies suggest it may ease cold symptoms and shorten how long they last. The evidence is limited and the quality of studies varies, so it should not replace standard care. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy.

Read the full Andrographis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Tocilizumab Injection

What Is Tocilizumab Injection Used For?

Brand name: Actemra

Tocilizumab injection is used to treat several serious inflammatory and immune-related conditions. Actemra (tocilizumab) is indicated for moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adults who haven't responded well to other disease-modifying drugs, giant cell arteritis in adults, systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) to slow lung function decline, polyarticular and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years and older, and severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS) caused by CAR T-cell therapy in adults and children 2 and older.

Actemra is also approved for hospitalized adults and children aged 2 and older with COVID-19 who are on corticosteroids and need supplemental oxygen or mechanical breathing support. Not every brand or route is approved for every use — your prescriber will choose the right form for your specific condition.

See full Tocilizumab Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Andrographis

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

0Major
407Moderate
5Minor
2,417No known interaction
407 Moderate 5 Minor 2,417 No interaction
Moderate

407 interactions

Showing 60 of 407 moderate interactions — see all 407 on the Andrographis page.

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,417 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,417 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Andrographis list.

See the full Andrographis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Tocilizumab, 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
Andrographis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Tocilizumab supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Tocilizumab, ranked by severity Tocilizumab Injection 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 Andrographis and Tocilizumab Together: Common Questions

Can you take Andrographis with Tocilizumab?
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 Andrographis and Tocilizumab 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 Tocilizumab and Andrographis?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.