Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) + Rufinamide
Rufinamide brand name: Banzel.
We found no known interaction between Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Rufinamide states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide
We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.
No Known Interaction Found
We did not find a documented interaction between Rufinamide and Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.
Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) at all — not against Rufinamide, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.
If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Some Rufinamide Products Have a Food Rule — Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) Should Not Break It
At least one FDA label for a product containing Rufinamide says to take it with food. If you take Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Rufinamide with a meal where the label says to.
This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Rufinamide products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION BANZEL should be given with food.
From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Rufinamide — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.
What Rufinamide Is Prescribed For, and What Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) Has Been Studied For
These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Rufinamide is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.
Rufinamide is prescribed for: Rufinamide — available as Banzel and generic rufinamide — is used as an add-on treatment (alongside other seizure medicines) for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), a severe type of epilepsy that usually begins in childhood and causes multiple types of seizures. This indication applies to both the tablet and oral suspension forms, for pediatric patients 1 year of age and older as well as adults.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) has been studied for:
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Epilepsy studied, not established Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) for epilepsy
Although there is interest in using oral BHB for epilepsy, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of BHB for this condition.
Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Rufinamide on your own; if you are taking Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Rufinamide
This page covers Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Rufinamide page lists 111 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).
By severity: 7 major · 89 moderate · 15 minor.
Where Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide 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.
#1,417 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#771 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.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
- Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
- What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
About Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb)
What is Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb)?
- Weight loss and fat burning
- Boosting energy on a ketogenic diet
- Athletic and exercise performance
- Mental focus and clarity
- Reducing 'keto flu' symptoms
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a ketone body your liver naturally makes when carbs are low, and it is sold as a supplement marketed for weight loss, energy, and athletic performance. Despite bold marketing claims, human evidence that BHB supplements help with weight loss or performance is limited and mixed. If you want to try it, talk with your pharmacist or doctor first, especially if you have kidney, heart, or blood pressure concerns.
Not applicable (a ketone body made by the body or produced as a synthetic salt) · Capsules, powders, drink mixes (often as BHB salts bound to sodium, calcium, magnesium, or potassium; also BHB esters)
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) record says about it on its own.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb): dosing
There is no official, standardized dose of BHB. Products vary widely in how much BHB they contain and which minerals they are paired with.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed them. Many people start with a smaller amount to see how their stomach reacts before using more.Because mineral content matters, check how much sodium, calcium, magnesium, or potassium each serving provides.
From our Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Rufinamide
What Is Rufinamide Used For?
Brand name: Banzel
Rufinamide — available as Banzel and generic rufinamide — is used as an add-on treatment (alongside other seizure medicines) for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), a severe type of epilepsy that usually begins in childhood and causes multiple types of seizures.
This indication applies to both the tablet and oral suspension forms, for pediatric patients 1 year of age and older as well as adults.
Other Drugs & Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb)
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Warfarin ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Sertraline ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Testosterone ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Docusate ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Naproxen ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Letrozole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) list.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) References
The 6 references that drive our Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Gautschi M, Weisstanner C, Slotboom J, Nava E, Zürcher T, Nuoffer JM. Highly efficient ketone body treatment in multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency-related leukodystrophy. Pediatr Res. 2015;77(1-1):91-8. PubMed
- Van Rijt WJ, Heiner-Fokkema MR, du Marchie Sarvaas GJ, et al. Favorable outcome after physiologic dose of sodium-D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate in severe MADD. Pediatrics. 2014;134(4):e1224-8.
- Clarke K, Tchabanenko K, Pawlosky R, et al. Kinetics, safety and tolerability of (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate in healthy adult subjects. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2012;63(3):401-8. PubMed
- Gross EC, Sandor P, Fischer D. Preliminary data on exogenous ketone bodies in migraine prevention. Cephalalgia 2017; 37(1S) 52-171.
- Evans M, Patchett E, Nally R, Kearns R, Larney M, Egan B. Effect of acute ingestion of β-hydroxybutyrate salts on the response to graded exercise in trained cyclists. Eur J Sport Sci. 2018;18(3):376-86.
- Malhi MS, Duerson F, Salabei JK, Okonoboh P. Starvation Ketoacidosis Induced by Ketogenic Diet and Consumption of Ketone Supplement. Cureus. 2021;13(6):e15778. Published 2021 Jun 20. PubMed
Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Taking Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) with Rufinamide?
Do Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide have any of the same side effects?
Should I take Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide at the same time of day?
Are Beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb) and Rufinamide used for the same thing?
Does Rufinamide interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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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.