Drug & supplement interaction

Babassu + Propylthiouracil, PTU

Propylthiouracil, PTU brand name: Propylthiouracil.

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

Babassu has a moderate interaction with Propylthiouracil, PTU. Evidence from animal research suggests that babassu has antithyroid effects.

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

Babassu and Propylthiouracil, PTU

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

Moderate

ANTITHYROID DRUGS

Why this applies to Propylthiouracil, PTU

Propylthiouracil, PTU falls under ANTITHYROID DRUGS — the group Babassu interacts with.

Evidence from animal research suggests that babassu has antithyroid effects. Theoretically, concomitant use with antithyroid drugs may result in additive hypothyroid activity, and may increase the risk of hypothyroidism. Some of these medications include methimazole (Tapazole), potassium iodide (Thyro-Block), and others.
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 gist: propylthiouracil (PTU) already works by dialing down how much thyroid hormone your gland makes. Some animal studies hint that babassu may also have a thyroid-lowering effect of its own. So if you stack the two together, the worry is that they could add up and push your thyroid too low.

If that happened, you might notice signs of an underactive thyroid, things like feeling tired or sluggish, weight gain, feeling cold, dry skin, or constipation. I want to be honest, though: this is a theoretical concern based on lab and animal research, not real human cases, so it's far from certain. Small culinary amounts of babassu are unlikely to matter much; concentrated supplements are the bigger question mark. Before adding any babassu product, check with your pharmacist or doctor, since your thyroid levels are already being carefully managed.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gaitan, E., Cooksey, R. C., Legan, J., Lindsay, R. H., Ingbar, S. H., and Medeiros-Neto, G. Antithyroid effects in vivo and in vitro of babassu and mandioca: a staple food in goiter areas of Brazil. Eur J Endocrinol 1994;131(2):138-144. 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

Babassu Also Interacts With Other Medications

Babassu has 126 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Propylthiouracil, PTU one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 126 No known interaction 2,704 (incl. Propylthiouracil, PTU)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Babassu

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Babassu or Propylthiouracil, PTU

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Babassu or Propylthiouracil, PTU, 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 Propylthiouracil, PTU

This page covers Babassu only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Propylthiouracil, PTU page lists 64 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Ascophyllum Nodosum (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 51 moderate · 9 minor.

Open the Propylthiouracil, PTU interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Babassu and Propylthiouracil, PTU 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 Babassu
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Propylthiouracil, PTU
Top half

#985 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 Babassu

What is Babassu?

Babassu
  • Skin and hair care
  • Inflammation
  • Wound healing
  • Digestive complaints
  • General wellness

Babassu comes from a Brazilian palm tree, and its oil and mesocarp flour are used in foods, cosmetics, and traditional remedies. Early lab and animal studies suggest possible anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects, but there is very little human research to confirm any health benefit. If you want to try it, talk with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Babassu monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Propylthiouracil

What Is Propylthiouracil Used For?

Brand name: Propylthiouracil

Propylthiouracil tablets are used to treat hyperthyroidism — a condition where the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. It is specifically indicated for patients with Graves' disease or toxic multinodular goiter who cannot tolerate methimazole (another antithyroid drug) and for whom surgery or radioactive iodine is not a suitable option.

It is also used to bring thyroid hormone levels under control before a patient undergoes thyroidectomy (thyroid surgery) or radioactive iodine therapy, again in patients who cannot tolerate methimazole. Because of its serious liver risks, propylthiouracil is generally a second-choice treatment — used when other options are not appropriate.

See full Propylthiouracil drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Babassu

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

0Major
126Moderate
0Minor
2,703No known interaction
126 Moderate 2,703 No interaction
Moderate

126 interactions

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

No interaction 2,703 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,703 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Babassu list.

See the full Babassu interactions page
See every supplement checked against Propylthiouracil, PTU, 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
Babassu monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Propylthiouracil, PTU supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Propylthiouracil, PTU, ranked by severity Propylthiouracil drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Babassu and Propylthiouracil, PTU Together: Common Questions

Can you take Babassu with Propylthiouracil, PTU?
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 Babassu and Propylthiouracil, PTU 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 Propylthiouracil, PTU and Babassu?

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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.