Bamboo + Methimazole
Methimazole brand name: Tapazole.
Bamboo has a moderate interaction with Methimazole. Theoretically, long-term bamboo use might increase the effects and adverse effects of antithyroid drugs, possibly leading to hypothyroidism.
Read the full interaction reportBamboo and Methimazole
Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.
ANTITHYROID DRUGS
Why this applies to Methimazole
Methimazole falls under ANTITHYROID DRUGS — the group Bamboo interacts with.
Animal research suggests that long-term consumption of bamboo shoot can decrease thyroid peroxidase activity, as well as levels of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). This effect has not yet been reported in humans.
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.
Here's the gist: methimazole works by dialing down your overactive thyroid. Bamboo, in animal studies, seems to push thyroid activity in the same direction by lowering thyroid hormone production. So the worry is that the two could stack up and slow your thyroid more than intended.
If that happened, you might notice signs of an underactive thyroid: feeling tired or sluggish, weight gain, feeling cold, dry skin, or constipation. That said, this is purely theoretical. It has only been seen in animals fed bamboo shoots over a long time, never reported in people, and food amounts are unlikely to matter. Concentrated, daily bamboo supplements are more of an unknown. Before adding one, check in with your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on your thyroid labs.
- Chandra AK, Ghosh D, Mukhopadhyay S, et al. Effect of bamboo shoot, Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd. on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine intake in rats. Indian J Exp Biol 2004;42(8):781-786.
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Bamboo Also Interacts With Other Medications
Bamboo has 4 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Methimazole one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Bamboo
We haven’t checked that one against Bamboo yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bamboo. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Methimazole
This page covers Bamboo only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methimazole 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.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methimazole page
“Methimazole (Tapazole) treats an overactive thyroid, and because the drug can stress the liver on its own, this list calls for real vigilance. Of the 64 supplements on file, 4 are rated major, with 51 moderate and 9 minor.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Bamboo as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 536 real supplement products containing Bamboo, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bamboo. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Methimazole too, on top of Bamboo — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Bamboo and Methimazole 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.
#279 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,323 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Bamboo
What is Bamboo?
- Source of silica for hair, skin, and nails
- Bone and joint support
- General nutrition (cooked shoots as food)
- Antioxidant support
- Traditional digestive remedy
Bamboo is a giant grass whose shoots are eaten as food and whose leaves and silica-rich extracts are sold as supplements, often for hair, skin, nail, and bone support. Solid human evidence for these benefits is limited, and raw shoots must be properly cooked because they contain natural compounds that can release cyanide. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using bamboo supplements, especially if you have thyroid problems or are pregnant.
About Methimazole
What Is Methimazole Used For?
Brand name: Tapazole
Methimazole tablets are used in adults and children with hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) due to Graves' disease or toxic multinodular goiter when surgery or radioactive iodine is not the right option. They work to lower thyroid hormone levels and ease symptoms.
Methimazole tablets are also used to bring thyroid hormone levels down before a patient undergoes thyroidectomy (thyroid surgery) or radioactive iodine treatment, making those procedures safer.
Other Drugs & Bamboo
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bamboo — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
4 interactions
No interaction 2,825 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Bamboo against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Naproxen ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,825 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bamboo list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Taking Bamboo and Methimazole Together: Common Questions
Can you take Bamboo with Methimazole?
How serious is the Bamboo and Methimazole interaction?
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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.