Drug & supplement interaction

Ashwagandha + Mirikizumab-mrkz

Mirikizumab-mrkz brand name: Omvoh.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Mirikizumab-mrkz falls into 2 drug categories that Ashwagandha can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, taking ashwagandha with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver damage.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Ashwagandha and Mirikizumab-mrkz

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Ashwagandha interacts with whole categories of medication. Mirikizumab-mrkz falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Ashwagandha in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Mirikizumab-mrkz

Mirikizumab-mrkz falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Ashwagandha interacts with.

Theoretically, taking ashwagandha with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver damage.
Ashwagandha has been linked to cases of acute hepatitis, liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, the need for liver transplantation, and death due to liver failure.
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 concern with pairing ashwagandha and Omvoh (mirikizumab). Mirikizumab is an injectable antibody used for ulcerative colitis, and one of the things your care team watches for with it is possible liver inflammation, which sometimes shows up as elevated liver enzymes on your bloodwork.

Ashwagandha, on its own, has been linked in some reports to liver problems ranging from mild enzyme bumps to, rarely, serious liver injury. So the worry is simply about stacking two things that can each stress the liver. To be clear, this is a theoretical flag based on how each acts, not proof they cause trouble together. Still, please loop in your pharmacist or doctor before adding ashwagandha, especially since they already monitor your liver labs on this medicine.

References
  1. Björnsson HK, Björnsson ES, Avula B, et al. Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: A case series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Liver Int. 2020;40(4):825-829. PubMed
  2. Ireland PJ, Hardy T, Burt AD, Donnelly MC. Drug-induced hepatocellular injury due to herbal supplement ashwagandha. J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2021;51(4):363-365. PubMed
  3. Suryawanshi G, Abdallah M, Thomson M, Desai N, Chauhan A, Lim N. Ashwagandha-Associated Acute Liver Failure Requiring Liver Transplantation. Am J Ther 2023;30(1):e80-e83. PubMed
  4. Pusec CM, Wolsky R, Llerena C, Sura P. A Case of Supplement-Induced Hepatitis. Cureus 2022;14(10):e30433. PubMed
  5. Lubarska M, Halasinski P, Hryhorowicz S, et al. Liver Dangers of Herbal Products: A Case Report of Ashwagandha-Induced Liver Injury. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023;20(5):3921. PubMed
  6. Tóth M, Benedek AE, Longerich T, Seitz HK. Ashwagandha-induced acute liver injury: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2023;11(3):e7078.
  7. Bokan G, Glamocanin T, Mavija Z, et al. Herb-Induced Liver Injury by Ayurvedic Ashwagandha as Assessed for Causality by the Updated RUCAM: An Emerging Cause. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023;16(8):1129. PubMed
  8. Philips CA, Valsan A, Theruvath AH, et al. Ashwagandha-induced liver injury-A case series from India and literature review. Hepatol Commun 2023;7(10):e0270. PubMed
Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

2 of 2

Mirikizumab-mrkz also falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS.

Theoretically, taking ashwagandha might decrease the effects of immunosuppressants.
Ashwagandha has demonstrated immunostimulant effects in humans. Animal research has shown that ashwagandha can attenuate the immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide.
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 to keep in mind: Omvoh (mirikizumab) is a biologic that works by calming down part of your immune system to control ulcerative colitis. Ashwagandha, on the other hand, has shown some immune-boosting activity in a few studies. So in theory, the two are pulling in opposite directions, and ashwagandha could take a little edge off how well Omvoh keeps your gut inflammation in check.

I want to be honest about how thin this evidence is. This concern comes mainly from lab and animal research, not from people actually taking Omvoh, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. If your colitis symptoms are well controlled, I wouldn't panic. Still, before adding ashwagandha, run it by your gastroenterologist or pharmacist so someone can keep an eye on your response.

References
  1. Upton R, ed. Ashwagandha Root (Withania somnifera): Analytical, quality control, and therapuetic monograph. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia 2000:1-25.
  2. Davis L, Kuttan G. Effect of Withania somnifera on cyclophosphamide-induced urotoxicity. Cancer Lett 2000;148:9-17. PubMed
  3. Davis L, Kuttan G. Suppressive effect of cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity by Withania somnifera extract in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 1998;62:209-14. PubMed
  4. Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Altern Med Rev 2000;5:334-46. DOI
  5. Tharakan A, Shukla H, Benny IR, Tharakan M, George L, Koshy S. Immunomodulatory Effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) Extract-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial with an Open Label Extension on Healthy Participants. J Clin Med 2021;1 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 917 moderate, 455 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Mirikizumab-mrkz 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz

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 Mirikizumab-mrkz, 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz

This page covers Ashwagandha only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Mirikizumab-mrkz 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz page

“Mirikizumab (Omvoh) treats inflammatory bowel disease by dialing down part of the immune system, and its interaction list deserves genuine wariness, most of all around the liver. The three most serious entries, Siberian cocklebur plus beer and wine, all raise the odds of liver damage when combined with a medication that can stress the…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Mirikizumab-mrkz 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Mirikizumab-mrkz
Top 25%

#616 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 Mirikizumab-Mrkz

What Is Mirikizumab-Mrkz Used For?

Brand name: Omvoh

Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) is used to treat moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults — a condition where the large intestine becomes chronically inflamed and ulcerated. It is also used to treat moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adults, another form of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract.

Both uses are specific to Omvoh administered by injection — first as intravenous (into the vein) infusions to start treatment, then as subcutaneous (under the skin) injections for ongoing maintenance.

See full Mirikizumab-Mrkz 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
917Moderate
455Minor
1,457No known interaction
Moderate

917 interactions

Showing 60 of 917 moderate interactions — see all 917 on the Ashwagandha page.

Minor

455 interactions

Showing 60 of 455 minor interactions — see all 455 on the Ashwagandha page.

No interaction 1,457 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 1,457 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ashwagandha and Mirikizumab-mrkz Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ashwagandha with Mirikizumab-mrkz?
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 2 interactions listed for Ashwagandha and Mirikizumab-mrkz?
Mirikizumab-mrkz 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz 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 Mirikizumab-mrkz and Ashwagandha?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.