Drug & supplement interaction

Bitter Yam + Acitretin

Acitretin brand name: Soriatane.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bitter Yam and Acitretin 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.

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Interaction report

Bitter Yam and Acitretin

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 Acitretin and Bitter Yam 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.

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.

Bitter Yam safety at a glance

Bitter Yam overall Use caution Human safety data are limited, and improperly prepared bitter yam can be toxic.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety information exists, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is no reliable safety data, so avoid use while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Acitretin and Bitter Yam? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Acitretin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Acitretin is filed under 5 classifications — including retinoids, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) inhibitors, photosensitizing drugs. Bitter Yam has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being digoxin (lanoxin) (moderate) — and none of Acitretin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Bitter Yam Does Interact With Other Medications

Bitter Yam has 1 moderate known drug interaction in our database — Acitretin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bitter Yam

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

What to actually watch for

What Acitretin’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Bitter Yam. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Acitretin’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. 8 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Thoughts of self-harm Worth acting on
  • Muscle weakness Worth acting on
  • A heart attack Worth acting on
  • A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on
  • Hives Worth acting on
  • Liver problems Worth acting on
  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on
  • An allergic reaction Worth acting on
  • Dry skin mentioned in 7.7% of FDA reports for Acitretin
  • Hair loss

Showing the 10 most notable of 16 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Acitretin. Read the label on DailyMed › Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 4,849 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Acitretin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Bitter Yam’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Bitter Yam side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Bitter Yam has no side effects.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acitretin

This page covers Bitter Yam only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acitretin page lists 53 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 2 major · 40 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acitretin page

“A course of Acitretin (Soriatane) for severe psoriasis runs for months, long enough for a multivitamin or detox product to slip in unexamined, and with this drug that carelessness carries real risk. Two of the 53 interacting ingredients are rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acitretin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Bitter Yam and Acitretin 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 Bitter Yam
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acitretin
Steady interest

#1,440 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.

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 Bitter Yam reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Bitter Yam and Acitretin records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Bitter Yam

What is Bitter Yam?

Bitter Yam
  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive complaints
  • Traditional food source
  • Wound and skin care (folk use)

Bitter yam is a wild African yam used traditionally as both food and folk medicine, often for blood sugar and digestion. Scientific evidence in humans is very limited, and some bitter yam species can be toxic if not properly prepared. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it as a supplement.

Dioscorea dumetorum · Dioscoreaceae · Tuber (root) · Cooked tuber, dried powder, traditional preparations

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Bitter Yam is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Bitter Yam record says about it on its own.

Bitter Yam: dosing

There is no established, standardized dose of bitter yam as a supplement. Traditional use varies widely and depends on how the tuber is prepared.If you choose to use a commercial product, follow the directions on the label and do not take more than recommended.

From our Bitter Yam monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Bitter Yam monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Acitretin

What Is Acitretin Used For?

Brand name: Soriatane

Acitretin capsules are approved to treat severe psoriasis in adults. It is typically reserved for patients whose psoriasis has not responded to other treatments, or when other treatments are not appropriate options.

Because of serious risks — including the risk of severe birth defects — acitretin is not a first-line choice. In women who could become pregnant, it should only be used when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks and strict pregnancy-prevention measures are in place.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Acitretin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (4,849 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Psoriasis 1,184 reports
Fatigue 483 reports
Nausea 441 reports
Pruritus 441 reports
Headache 372 reports
See full Acitretin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bitter Yam

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

0Major
1Moderate
0Minor
2,828No known interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

No interaction 2,828 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Bitter Yam References

The 1 references that drive our Bitter Yam 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.

  1. Nimenibo-Uadia R. Control of hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and hyperketonaemia by aqueous extract of Dioscorea dumetorum tuber. Trop J Pharm Res 2003;2:183-9. Available at: http://www.bioline.org.br/request?pr03009. DOI

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.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bitter Yam and Acitretin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bitter Yam with Acitretin?
We do not list a known interaction between Bitter Yam and Acitretin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
How was the Bitter Yam and Acitretin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Acitretin is filed under 5 classifications, and Bitter Yam has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Acitretin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Bitter Yam interact with any other medications?
Yes. Bitter Yam has 1 documented drug interaction in our database — Acitretin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Acitretin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Acitretin has documented interactions with 53 supplements in our database — Bitter Yam is not one of them. The Acitretin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Acitretin and Bitter Yam?

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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.