Drug & supplement interaction

Bergamot + Pirfenidone

Pirfenidone brand name: Esbriet.

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

Bergamot has a moderate interaction with Pirfenidone. Theoretically, topical bergamot essential oil might increase the risk of side effects when used along with photosensitizing drugs.

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

Bergamot and Pirfenidone

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Pirfenidone

Pirfenidone falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Bergamot interacts with.

Theoretically, topical bergamot essential oil might increase the risk of side effects when used along with photosensitizing drugs.
Bergamot contains bergapten, which has photosensitizing effects.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's something worth knowing if you take Esbriet (pirfenidone) for pulmonary fibrosis. This medicine already makes your skin much more sensitive to sunlight, so sunburns can happen faster and easier than normal. Bergamot essential oil contains a compound called bergapten, which can also make skin react to sunlight. Putting the two together could stack up that sun sensitivity and raise your odds of burning, rashes, or skin irritation.

To be clear, this is a theoretical concern based on how these things work, not something proven by strong studies. It mainly applies to bergamot oil used on the skin, not the cholesterol-support extract you swallow. Either way, keep covering up and using sunscreen, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding bergamot.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Naganuma M, Hirose S, Nakayama Y, et al. A study of the phototoxicity of lemon oil. Arch Dermatol Res 1985;278:31-6. . PubMed
  2. Kaddu, S., Kerl, H., and Wolf, P. Accidental bullous phototoxic reactions to bergamot aromatherapy oil. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2001;45(3):458-461. PubMed
  3. Gruson, L. M. and Chang, M. W. Berloque dermatitis mimicking child abuse. Arch.Pediatr.Adolesc.Med. 2002;156(11):1091-1093. PubMed
  4. Weisenseel, P. and Woitalla, S. [Toxic mustard plaster dematitis and phototoxic dematitis after application of bergamot oil]. MMW.Fortschr.Med. 12-15-2005;147(51-52):53, 55.
  5. Placzek, M., Fromel, W., Eberlein, B., Gilbertz, K. P., and Przybilla, B. Evaluation of phototoxic properties of fragrances. Acta Derm.Venereol. 2007;87(4):312-316. PubMed
  6. Morliere, P., Huppe, G., Averbeck, D., Young, A. R., Santus, R., and Dubertret, L. In vitro photostability and photosensitizing properties of bergamot oil. Effects of a cinnamate sunscreen. J.Photochem.Photobiol.B 1990;7(2-4):199-208. PubMed
  7. Young, A. R., Walker, S. L., Kinley, J. S., Plastow, S. R., Averbeck, D., Morliere, P., and Dubertret, L. Phototumorigenesis studies of 5-methoxypsoralen in bergamot oil: evaluation and modification of risk of human use in an albino mouse skin model. J.P PubMed
  8. Girard, J., Unkovic, J., Delahayes, J., and Lafille, C. [Phototoxicity of Bergamot oil. Comparison between humans and guinea pigs]. Dermatologica 1979;158(4):229-243.
  9. Zaynoun, S. T., Johnson, B. E., and Frain-Bell, W. A study of oil of bergamot and its importance as a phototoxic agent. II. Factors which affect the phototoxic reaction induced by bergamot oil and psoralen derivatives. Contact Dermatitis 1977;3(5):225-23 PubMed
  10. Zacher, K. D. and Ippen, H. [Contact dermatitis caused by bergamot oil]. Derm.Beruf.Umwelt. 1984;32(3):95-97.
  11. Yasui, Y. and Hirone, T. Action spectrum for bergamot-oil phototoxicity measured by sunburn cell counting. J.Dermatol. 1994;21(5):319-322. PubMed
  12. Zaynoun, S. T., Johnson, B. E., and Frain-Bell, W. A study of oil of bergamot and its importance as a phototoxic agent. I. Characterization and quantification of the photoactive component. Br.J.Dermatol. 1977;96(5):475-482. 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

Bergamot Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bergamot has 409 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Pirfenidone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 409 No known interaction 2,421 (incl. Pirfenidone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bergamot

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Bergamot or Pirfenidone

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

This page covers Bergamot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pirfenidone page lists 115 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adrafinil (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angelica Archangelica (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 80 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pirfenidone page

“Pirfenidone (Esbriet) slows the lung scarring of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and when a drug is doing that kind of work, this is not a list to skim. Most of the 115 ingredients on file touch CYP1A2, the liver enzyme that clears pirfenidone, so they can push its blood level up (more nausea and liver strain) or drag it down and quietl…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pirfenidone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 47 real supplement products containing Bergamot, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bergamot. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Pirfenidone too, on top of Bergamot — 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 Bergamot and Pirfenidone 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 Bergamot
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Pirfenidone
Top half

#842 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 Bergamot

What is Bergamot?

Bergamot
  • High cholesterol
  • Heart and metabolic health
  • Anxiety and stress (aromatherapy)
  • Antimicrobial/antiseptic
  • Skin care and fragrance

Bergamot is a Mediterranean citrus fruit, and its standardized extract is most often used to support cholesterol and heart health, with some early but promising research. The essential oil is widely used for fragrance and aromatherapy but should not be taken by mouth, and it can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using bergamot supplements, especially if you take medicine for cholesterol or blood sugar.

Read the full Bergamot monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Pirfenidone

What Is Pirfenidone Used For?

Brand name: Esbriet

Pirfenidone — available as capsules and tablets under the brand name Esbriet, as well as generic pirfenidone products — is indicated for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic, progressive disease in which scar tissue builds up in the lungs and makes breathing increasingly difficult.

Esbriet capsules and tablets, pirfenidone capsules, and pirfenidone tablets are each specifically approved for IPF. No other uses are supported by the available product labels.

See full Pirfenidone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bergamot

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

0Major
409Moderate
0Minor
2,420No known interaction
409 Moderate 2,420 No interaction
Moderate

409 interactions

Showing 60 of 409 moderate interactions — see all 409 on the Bergamot page.

No interaction 2,420 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,420 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bergamot list.

See the full Bergamot interactions page
See every supplement checked against Pirfenidone, 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
Bergamot monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Pirfenidone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Pirfenidone, ranked by severity Pirfenidone 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 Bergamot and Pirfenidone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bergamot with Pirfenidone?
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 Bergamot and Pirfenidone 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 Pirfenidone and Bergamot?

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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.