Drug & supplement interaction

Atractylodes + Afatinib Dimaleate

Afatinib Dimaleate brand name: Gilotrif.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Afatinib Dimaleate and Atractylodes in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Atractylodes safety at a glance

Atractylodes overall Use caution Often used traditionally, but human safety data are limited, so use cautiously and under guidance.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. In animals, atractylodes has caused reproductive toxicity, including fetal death, as well as changes in gestation, growth, and skeletal format... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety while breastfeeding is unknown, so avoid it to be safe.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Afatinib Dimaleate and Atractylodes? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Afatinib Dimaleate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Afatinib Dimaleate is filed under 2 classifications — p-glycoprotein substrates, oral drugs. Atractylodes has documented interactions with 5 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), aromatase inhibitors (moderate) and hexobarbital (moderate) — and none of Afatinib Dimaleate’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Atractylodes Does Interact With Other Medications

Atractylodes has 127 moderate, 674 minor known drug interactions in our database — Afatinib Dimaleate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Atractylodes

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate May Share a Side Effect

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Nausea reported in 7.4% of FDA reports for Afatinib Dimaleate Additional detail

    Atractylodes

    “Orally, atractylenolide I, an isolated constituent of atractylodes, can cause bad taste, nausea, and dry mouth.”

    Atractylodes · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dry mouth.

    1 source cited
    1. 15706. Liu Y, Jia Z, Dong L, et al. A randomized pilot study of atractylenolide I on gastric cancer cachexia patients. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008;5:337-44. PubMed

    Afatinib Dimaleate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Afatinib Dimaleate, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Atractylodes but not commonly for Afatinib Dimaleate: an allergic reaction and dry mouth.

Effects for Afatinib Dimaleate come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Atractylodes come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 6,587 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Afatinib Dimaleate that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Atractylodes in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. In animals, atractylodes has caused reproductive toxicity, including fetal death, as well as changes in gestation, growth, and skeletal formation.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Afatinib Dimaleate Is Prescribed For, and What Atractylodes Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Afatinib Dimaleate is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Atractylodes is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Afatinib Dimaleate is prescribed for: Gilotrif (afatinib) is used to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — cancer that has spread and cannot be removed by surgery. It has two specific approved uses. First, Gilotrif is used as an initial treatment for metastatic NSCLC when the tumor carries certain EGFR mutations (gene changes in the cancer cells) confirmed by an FDA-approved test — specifically non-resistant mutations. Second, Gilotrif is used to treat metastatic squamous NSCLC (a particular cell type of lung cancer) in patients whose cancer progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Atractylodes has been studied for:

  • Lung cancer studied, not established Atractylodes has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Atractylodes for lung cancer

    Although there has been interest in using oral atractylodes for lung cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of atractylodes for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Afatinib Dimaleate on your own; if you are taking Atractylodes for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Afatinib Dimaleate

This page covers Atractylodes only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Afatinib Dimaleate page lists 54 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), St. John's Wort (major), Bitter Melon (moderate), Black Pepper (moderate) and Bulbine Natalensis (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 35 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Afatinib Dimaleate page

“Afatinib (Gilotrif) is a targeted lung cancer therapy, and because its effectiveness depends on keeping a steady blood level, this list deserves genuine care. Most of the 54 supplements here either change how much of the drug the gut absorbs or interfere with P-glycoprotein, a pump that moves afatinib across cell walls, pushing its lev…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Afatinib Dimaleate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 691 real supplement products containing Atractylodes, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Atractylodes. Even though Atractylodes itself has no known interaction with Afatinib Dimaleate, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate 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 Atractylodes
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Afatinib Dimaleate
Top half

#739 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Atractylodes reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Atractylodes

What is Atractylodes?

Atractylodes
  • Digestive upset and poor appetite
  • Bloating and fluid retention
  • General fatigue or 'weakness'
  • Diarrhea
  • Support within traditional formulas

Atractylodes is a root used for centuries in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Thai medicine, mostly for digestive complaints and fatigue, often as part of multi-herb formulas. Modern research is still early and mostly from lab and animal studies, so its true benefits in people are not well proven. If you want to try it, talk with a pharmacist or doctor first, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Atractylodes macrocephala; Atractylodes lancea · Asteraceae · Rhizome (root) · Dried root, powders, capsules, decoctions (teas), and part of traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal formulas

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Atractylodes is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Atractylodes record says about it on its own.

Atractylodes: dosing

There is no well-established standard dose for Atractylodes as a single supplement, and traditional amounts vary depending on the formula and the form used (dried root, powder, capsule, or decoction).If you choose to use it, follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed the suggested amount.

From our Atractylodes monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Atractylodes monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Afatinib

What Is Afatinib Used For?

Brand name: Gilotrif

Gilotrif (afatinib) is used to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — cancer that has spread and cannot be removed by surgery. It has two specific approved uses.

First, Gilotrif is used as an initial treatment for metastatic NSCLC when the tumor carries certain EGFR mutations (gene changes in the cancer cells) confirmed by an FDA-approved test — specifically non-resistant mutations. Second, Gilotrif is used to treat metastatic squamous NSCLC (a particular cell type of lung cancer) in patients whose cancer progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

See full Afatinib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Atractylodes

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

0Major
127Moderate
674Minor
2,028No known interaction
Moderate

127 interactions

Showing 60 of 127 moderate interactions — see all 127 on the Atractylodes page.

Minor

674 interactions

Showing 60 of 674 minor interactions — see all 674 on the Atractylodes page.

No interaction 2,028 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Atractylodes References

The 6 references that drive our Atractylodes monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Liu Y, Jia Z, Dong L, et al. A randomized pilot study of atractylenolide I on gastric cancer cachexia patients. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008;5:337-44. PubMed
  2. Chen Y, Yang W, Guo L, Wu X, Zhang T, Liu J, Zhang J. Atractylodes lactone compounds inhibit platelet activation. Platelets. 2017 Mar;28(2):194-202. PubMed
  3. Jiang H, Shi J, Li Y. Screening for compounds with aromatase inhibiting activities from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Molecules. 2011 Apr 14;16(4):3146-51. PubMed
  4. Koonrungsesomboon N, Na-Bangchang K, Karbwang J. Therapeutic potential and pharmacological activities of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014 Jun;7(6):421-8. PubMed
  5. Li L, Tang LY, Man GC, Yeung BH, Lau CB, Leung PC, Wang CC. Potential reproductive toxicity of Largehead Atractylodes Rhizome, the most commonly used Chinese medicine for threatened miscarriage. Hum Reprod. 2011 Dec;26(12):3280-8. PubMed
  6. Muhamad N, Plengsuriyakarn T, Na-Bangchang K. Atractylodes lancea for cholangiocarcinoma: Modulatory effects on CYP1A2 and CYP3A1 and pharmacokinetics in rats and biodistribution in mice. PLoS One 2022;17(11):e0277614. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Atractylodes with Afatinib Dimaleate?
We do not list a known interaction between Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to one of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Atractylodes in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Afatinib Dimaleate is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Atractylodes and Afatinib Dimaleate combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Afatinib Dimaleate is filed under 2 classifications, and Atractylodes has documented interactions with 5 drug classes — none of Afatinib Dimaleate's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Atractylodes interact with any other medications?
Yes. Atractylodes has 801 documented drug interactions in our database — Afatinib Dimaleate is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Afatinib Dimaleate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Afatinib Dimaleate has documented interactions with 54 supplements in our database — Atractylodes is not one of them. The Afatinib Dimaleate interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Afatinib Dimaleate and Atractylodes?

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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.