Drug & supplement interaction

Atractylodes + Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine

Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine brand name: Alka Seltzer Plus Night Time Effervescent.

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

Atractylodes has a moderate interaction with Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine. Theoretically, atractylodes might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs.

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

Atractylodes and Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine

Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Atractylodes interacts with.

Theoretically, atractylodes might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs.
Laboratory research suggests that atractylenolides II and III, constituents of atractylodes, reduce platelet activation. So far, this has not been shown 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

The product you're asking about (Alka-Seltzer Plus Night Time) contains aspirin, which is the piece that matters here. Aspirin already thins the blood a bit by quieting down platelets, the cells that help you form clots. Lab studies hint that certain compounds in atractylodes (atractylenolides) may also calm platelets down. Put them together and, in theory, you could have a slightly higher chance of bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding that's slow to stop.

I want to be honest about the evidence though: this is only seen in test tubes and animals, not in real people, so it's a soft, theoretical concern. Still, if you take aspirin daily or have any bleeding issues, run the combo past your pharmacist or doctor before adding atractylodes.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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

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

Atractylodes Also Interacts With Other Medications

Atractylodes has 126 moderate, 676 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 126 Minor 676 No known interaction 2,028 (incl. Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine

This page covers Atractylodes only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine page lists 361 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), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Danshen (major).

By severity: 17 major · 308 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine page

“A cold remedy used for a few nights can still collide with supplements taken daily, and Alka Seltzer Plus Night Time (aspirin, diphenhydramine, phenylpropanolamine) is one to treat with genuine care. Its three ingredients thin the blood, sedate, and stimulate all at once, which is why 361 supplements and herbs are on file here.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine 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. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine too, on top of Atractylodes — 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 Atractylodes and Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine
Top 10%

#193 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 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.

Read the full Atractylodes monograph & all interactions
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
126Moderate
676Minor
2,027No known interaction
126 Moderate 676 Minor 2,027 No interaction
Moderate

126 interactions

Showing 60 of 126 moderate interactions — see all 126 on the Atractylodes page.

Minor

676 interactions

Showing 60 of 676 minor interactions — see all 676 on the Atractylodes page.

No interaction 2,027 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,027 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Atractylodes list.

See the full Atractylodes interactions page
See every supplement checked against Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine, 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
Atractylodes monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine, 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 Atractylodes and Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Atractylodes with Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine?
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 Atractylodes and Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine 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 Aspirin, Diphenhydramine, Phenylpropanolamine 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.