Drug & supplement interaction

Bilberry + Ethanol

Ethanol brand name: Ethanol.

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

Bilberry has a moderate interaction with Ethanol. Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.

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

Bilberry and Ethanol

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Ethanol

Ethanol falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES — the group Bilberry interacts with.

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.
Animal research shows that exposure to small concentrations of bilberry extract in drinking water for around one month increased CYP2E1 activity by 31%. However, exposure over a 2-month period did not increase CYP2E1 activity. 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 short version: your body clears alcohol partly through a liver enzyme called CYP2E1. In one animal study, bilberry extract bumped up the activity of that enzyme by about 31 percent after roughly a month, though that boost faded by the two-month mark. If something similar happened in people, it could mean alcohol gets broken down a little faster, which in theory might slightly blunt how much of a buzz you feel.

But please keep this in perspective. This was lab and animal work only, and it has never been shown in humans. The effect, if real, is likely small and short-lived. Eating bilberries or having a normal supplement dose isn't a known reason to change your drinking. As always, if you have questions about alcohol and your health, check in with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Prokop J, Lněničková K, Cibicek N, et al. Effect of bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2019;129:382-90. 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

Bilberry Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bilberry has 274 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ethanol one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 274 No known interaction 2,556 (incl. Ethanol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bilberry

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethanol

This page covers Bilberry only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethanol page lists 65 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), Coca (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Tansy (major).

By severity: 5 major · 38 moderate · 22 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethanol page

“Ethanol used as a medication is still alcohol, and its supplement list calls for real vigilance, starting with the five entries rated major. GHB is the starkest of these, since combining it with alcohol can cause serious sedation, suppressed breathing, and low blood pressure, a risk confirmed in human studies.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethanol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3,883 real supplement products containing Bilberry, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bilberry. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ethanol too, on top of Bilberry — 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 Bilberry and Ethanol 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 Bilberry
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ethanol
Top 5%

#136 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 Bilberry

What is Bilberry?

Bilberry
  • Eye and vision health
  • Antioxidant support
  • Diarrhea and digestive upset
  • Circulation and vein health
  • Blood sugar support

Bilberry is a blueberry-like fruit rich in antioxidant plant compounds called anthocyanins, and it has a long history of traditional use for eye health, circulation, and mild diarrhea. While it is generally well tolerated as a food and supplement, strong scientific proof for most health claims is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using bilberry supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a health condition.

Read the full Bilberry monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bilberry

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

0Major
274Moderate
0Minor
2,555No known interaction
274 Moderate 2,555 No interaction
Moderate

274 interactions

Showing 60 of 274 moderate interactions — see all 274 on the Bilberry page.

No interaction 2,555 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,555 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bilberry list.

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

Can you take Bilberry with Ethanol?
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 Bilberry and Ethanol 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 Ethanol and Bilberry?

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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.