Drug & supplement interaction

Ashwagandha + Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide

Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide brand name: Librax.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide falls into 3 drug categories that Ashwagandha can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, taking ashwagandha might increase the sedative effects of CNS depressants.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Ashwagandha and Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Ashwagandha interacts with whole categories of medication. Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Ashwagandha in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide

Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Ashwagandha interacts with.

Theoretically, taking ashwagandha might increase the sedative effects of CNS depressants.
Ashwagandha seems to have sedative effects. Theoretically, this may potentiate the effects of barbiturates, other sedatives, and anxiolytics.
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: Librax contains chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine that calms the brain and naturally makes you sleepy. Ashwagandha is thought to have its own mild calming, sleep-promoting effect. When you put the two together, those effects may stack up, so you could feel more drowsy, foggy, or unsteady on your feet than the medication alone would cause. The clidinium part can already add dry mouth and grogginess, so sedation may feel more noticeable.

I want to be honest about the strength of this: it's a theoretical concern based on how ashwagandha behaves, not strong human studies. Still, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them, especially if you drive or already feel tired on Librax.

References
  1. Upton R, ed. Ashwagandha Root (Withania somnifera): Analytical, quality control, and therapuetic monograph. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia 2000:1-25.
Moderate

BENZODIAZEPINES

2 of 3

Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide also falls under BENZODIAZEPINES.

Theoretically, taking ashwagandha might increase the sedative effects of benzodiazepines.
There is preliminary evidence that ashwagandha might have an additive effect with diazepam (Valium) and clonazepam (Klonopin). This may also occur with other benzodiazepines.
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

The piece of Librax I'm focused on here is the chlordiazepoxide, which is a benzodiazepine that calms the brain and can make you drowsy. Ashwagandha is often taken to ease stress and help with sleep, so the concern is simple: stacking two things that both relax the nervous system could leave you more sedated than you bargained for. That might look like extra sleepiness, foggy thinking, dizziness, or feeling unsteady on your feet.

I want to be honest about how strong this concern is. It's theoretical, based on how these things work in the body rather than solid studies in people. It's worth a heads-up, not a panic. If you're considering ashwagandha alongside your Librax, run it by your pharmacist or doctor first, and don't drive until you know how the combo affects you.

References
  1. Upton R, ed. Ashwagandha Root (Withania somnifera): Analytical, quality control, and therapuetic monograph. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia 2000:1-25.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, ashwagandha might decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that ashwagandha extract induces CYP1A2 enzymes.
Severity Minor 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 gist with Librax (chlordiazepoxide plus clidinium) and ashwagandha. The chlordiazepoxide part is partly handled by a liver enzyme called CYP1A2. In test-tube studies, ashwagandha seemed to speed that enzyme up a bit. If that held true in people, your body might clear the chlordiazepoxide a little faster, which could make it slightly less effective at calming the anxiety and gut spasms it's meant to ease.

I want to be honest, though: this is only theoretical, based on lab data, not real patients, and it's rated a minor interaction. For most folks it likely won't cause a noticeable change. Still, since ashwagandha can also add to drowsiness, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. 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

Ashwagandha Also Interacts With Other Medications

Ashwagandha has 915 moderate, 456 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ashwagandha

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Ashwagandha or Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Ashwagandha or Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide, 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 Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide

This page covers Ashwagandha only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide page lists 188 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: 10 major · 142 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide page

“Librax combines chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine, with clidinium, an anticholinergic, and both halves interact with supplements, 188 ingredients in all. This is a list to approach with real care, starting with the 10 rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 4,964 real supplement products containing Ashwagandha, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Ashwagandha. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide too, on top of Ashwagandha — 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 Ashwagandha and Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide 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 Ashwagandha
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide
Top half

#868 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 Ashwagandha

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Sleep problems
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Athletic performance
  • General well-being (adaptogen)

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb most often taken to help with stress, anxiety, and sleep, and some small studies suggest it may help, though the evidence is still limited. It is generally well tolerated for short-term use in healthy adults, but it should be avoided in pregnancy and used cautiously by people with thyroid or liver problems. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Read the full Ashwagandha monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Chlordiazepoxide and Clidinium

What Is Chlordiazepoxide and Clidinium Used For?

Brand name: Librax

Chlordiazepoxide and clidinium capsules are used to help control both the physical and emotional factors involved in gastrointestinal (digestive) disorders. This includes use as add-on therapy for peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome (also called irritable colon, spastic colon, or mucous colitis), and acute enterocolitis (sudden inflammation of the intestines).

Librax is one brand available in capsule form and is approved for the same set of gastrointestinal uses.

See full Chlordiazepoxide and Clidinium drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ashwagandha

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

0Major
915Moderate
456Minor
1,458No known interaction
Moderate

915 interactions

Showing 60 of 915 moderate interactions — see all 915 on the Ashwagandha page.

Minor

456 interactions

Showing 60 of 456 minor interactions — see all 456 on the Ashwagandha page.

No interaction 1,458 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,458 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ashwagandha 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 Ashwagandha and Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ashwagandha with Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide?
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.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Ashwagandha and Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide?
Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide belongs to more than one drug category, and Ashwagandha interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Ashwagandha and Chlordiazepoxide, Clidinium Bromide 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

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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.