Drug & supplement interaction

Artichoke + Mephobarbital

Mephobarbital brand name: Mebaral.

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

Artichoke has a moderate interaction with Mephobarbital. Theoretically, artichoke might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.

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

Artichoke and Mephobarbital

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Mephobarbital

Mephobarbital falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES — the group Artichoke interacts with.

Theoretically, artichoke might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.
In vitro research shows that artichoke leaf extract inhibits CYP2C19 activity. However, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
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: your body uses an enzyme called CYP2C19 to help clear mephobarbital (Mebaral), a barbiturate used mostly for seizures and sometimes anxiety. In lab studies, artichoke leaf extract appears to slow that same enzyme down. If that held true in people, mephobarbital could clear a bit more slowly and build up, which might mean stronger sedative effects like extra drowsiness, dizziness, or feeling foggy and unsteady.

I want to be honest about the strength of this, though. This comes from test-tube research only and has never been reported in actual patients, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. Still, since barbiturates leave little room for error, I'd run any artichoke supplement past your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Elsebai MF, Abass K, Hakkola J, Atawia AR, Farag MA. The wild Egyptian artichoke as a promising functional food for the treatment of hepatitis C virus as revealed via UPLC-MS and clinical trials. Food Funct. 2016;7(7):3006-16. 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

Artichoke Also Interacts With Other Medications

Artichoke has 362 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Mephobarbital one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 362 No known interaction 2,468 (incl. Mephobarbital)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Artichoke

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Mephobarbital

This page covers Artichoke only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Mephobarbital page lists 132 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 · 106 moderate · 19 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Mephobarbital page

“Mephobarbital (Mebaral) is a barbiturate, a powerful sedative used mainly for seizures, and I would treat its supplement list with genuine care. Of the 132 ingredients with an interaction on file, 78 pile extra sedation on top of the drug, and the seven major-rated entries sit almost entirely in that group.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Mephobarbital interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,715 real supplement products containing Artichoke, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Artichoke. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Mephobarbital too, on top of Artichoke — 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 Artichoke and Mephobarbital 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 Artichoke
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Mephobarbital
Top half

#1,377 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 Artichoke

What is Artichoke?

Artichoke
  • High cholesterol
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Constipation and bloating
  • Liver and gallbladder support
  • General digestive health

Artichoke leaf extract is a generally well-tolerated supplement that may have a mild cholesterol-lowering effect and is often used for indigestion, though the evidence is modest. It is not a replacement for proven treatments, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a medical condition.

Read the full Artichoke monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Artichoke

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

0Major
362Moderate
0Minor
2,467No known interaction
362 Moderate 2,467 No interaction
Moderate

362 interactions

Showing 60 of 362 moderate interactions — see all 362 on the Artichoke page.

No interaction 2,467 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,467 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Artichoke list.

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

Can you take Artichoke with Mephobarbital?
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 Artichoke and Mephobarbital 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 Mephobarbital and Artichoke?

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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.