Drug & supplement interaction

Baikal Skullcap + Cyclobenzaprine

Cyclobenzaprine brand names: Cyclobenzaprine, Flexeril, Cycloprine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Baikal Skullcap has a moderate interaction with Cyclobenzaprine. Theoretically, Baikal skullcap may increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 enzymes.

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

Baikal Skullcap and Cyclobenzaprine

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Cyclobenzaprine

Cyclobenzaprine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Baikal Skullcap interacts with.

Theoretically, Baikal skullcap may increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 enzymes.
In vitro evidence suggests that constituents of Baikal skullcap inhibit the activity of CYP1A2. This effect has not been reported 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

Here's the simple version. Your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP1A2 to break down and clear cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril). In test tube studies, compounds in Baikal skullcap appear to slow that same enzyme down. If that happened in a real person, cyclobenzaprine could clear more slowly and build up a bit, which may add to its usual effects like drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and a foggy or sluggish feeling.

That said, this is only lab-bench data, and it has not been shown in actual people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Cyclobenzaprine is already pretty sedating on its own. Still, before pairing them, run it by your pharmacist or doctor, especially if you notice extra grogginess.

References
  1. Kim, B. R., Kim, D. H., Park, R., Kwon, K. B., Ryu, D. G., Kim, Y. C., Kim, N. Y., Jeong, S., Kang, B. K., and Kim, K. S. Effect of an extract of the root of Scutellaria baicalensis and its flavonoids on aflatoxin B1 oxidizing cytochrome P450 enzymes. Pl PubMed
  2. Li, T., Li, N., Guo, Q., Ji, H., Zhao, D., Xie, S., Li, X., Qiu, Z., Han, D., Chen, X., and You, Q. Inhibitory effects of wogonin on catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 enzyme in human liver microsomes. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 6-29-2011; 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

Baikal Skullcap Also Interacts With Other Medications

Baikal Skullcap has 593 moderate, 352 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Cyclobenzaprine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Baikal Skullcap

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Baikal Skullcap or Cyclobenzaprine

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

This page covers Baikal Skullcap only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cyclobenzaprine page lists 197 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major), Procaine (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 5 major · 146 moderate · 46 minor.

Open the Cyclobenzaprine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 737 real supplement products containing Baikal Skullcap, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Baikal Skullcap. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Cyclobenzaprine too, on top of Baikal Skullcap — 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 Baikal Skullcap and Cyclobenzaprine 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 Baikal Skullcap
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Cyclobenzaprine
Top 25%

#361 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 Baikal Skullcap

What is Baikal Skullcap?

Baikal Skullcap
  • Inflammation
  • Allergies
  • Anxiety and sleep
  • Immune support
  • Respiratory infections

Baikal skullcap is a traditional Chinese herb (Huang Qin) used for inflammation, allergies, and infections, with active compounds like baicalin and baicalein studied mostly in the lab. Human evidence remains limited, so it should not replace proven treatments. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Baikal Skullcap monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cyclobenzaprine

What Is Cyclobenzaprine Used For?

Brand names: Cyclobenzaprine, Flexeril, Cycloprine

Cyclobenzaprine tablets and extended-release capsules are used alongside rest and physical therapy to relieve muscle spasm caused by acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions — easing pain, tenderness, and limited movement. This use is intended for short-term treatment only (up to 2–3 weeks).

Tonmya, the sublingual (under-the-tongue) form of cyclobenzaprine, is separately indicated for the treatment of fibromyalgia in adults. It is not the same as the oral tablet or capsule formulations.

See full Cyclobenzaprine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Baikal Skullcap

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

0Major
593Moderate
352Minor
1,884No known interaction
Moderate

593 interactions

Showing 60 of 593 moderate interactions — see all 593 on the Baikal Skullcap page.

Minor

352 interactions

Showing 60 of 352 minor interactions — see all 352 on the Baikal Skullcap page.

No interaction 1,884 drugs checked — show the 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 Baikal Skullcap and Cyclobenzaprine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Baikal Skullcap with Cyclobenzaprine?
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 Baikal Skullcap and Cyclobenzaprine 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 Cyclobenzaprine and Baikal Skullcap?

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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.