Drug & supplement interaction

Bamboo + Propylthiouracil, PTU

Propylthiouracil, PTU brand name: Propylthiouracil.

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

Bamboo has a moderate interaction with Propylthiouracil, PTU. Theoretically, long-term bamboo use might increase the effects and adverse effects of antithyroid drugs, possibly leading to hypothyroidism.

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

Bamboo 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 Bamboo interacts with.

Theoretically, long-term bamboo use might increase the effects and adverse effects of antithyroid drugs, possibly leading to hypothyroidism.
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.
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 idea behind this pairing. Propylthiouracil works by lowering how much thyroid hormone your gland makes. Bamboo, at least in animal studies, seems to nudge things in the same direction by slowing an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase and lowering T4 and T3. So if you stack the two together over a long stretch, the worry is a bit too much thyroid suppression, which can tip you toward an underactive thyroid.

If that happened, you might feel symptoms of low thyroid, like fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain, dry skin, or sluggishness. I'll be honest though, this is only theoretical and based on animal research, not people, so don't panic. Food amounts of cooked bamboo shoots are very unlikely to matter. Just loop in your doctor or pharmacist before using concentrated bamboo supplements long-term, since your thyroid levels are being carefully managed.

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

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

Bamboo Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bamboo has 4 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 4 No known interaction 2,826 (incl. Propylthiouracil, PTU)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bamboo

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Bamboo 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 Bamboo 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 Bamboo 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

One more smart check

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 Propylthiouracil, PTU 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:

How much people look this up

Where Bamboo 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 Bamboo
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Propylthiouracil, PTU
Top half

#1,190 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 Bamboo

What is Bamboo?

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.

Read the full Bamboo 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 produces too much hormone. It is specifically approved for patients with Graves' disease or toxic multinodular goiter who cannot tolerate methimazole and for whom surgery or radioactive iodine therapy is not a suitable option.

Propylthiouracil is also used to reduce hyperthyroid symptoms before a patient undergoes thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) or radioactive iodine therapy, again in patients who cannot tolerate methimazole. It may also be the preferred antithyroid drug during or just before the first trimester of pregnancy.

See full Propylthiouracil drug information
Keep checking

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.

0Major
4Moderate
0Minor
2,825No known interaction
4 Moderate 2,825 No interaction
Moderate

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.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,825 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bamboo list.

See the full Bamboo 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
Bamboo 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 Bamboo and Propylthiouracil, PTU Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bamboo 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 Bamboo 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 Bamboo?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.