Drug & supplement interaction

Black Cohosh + Irinotecan Hydrochloride

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

Black Cohosh has a minor interaction with Irinotecan Hydrochloride. Black cohosh may inhibit one form of OATP, OATP2B1, which could reduce the bioavailability and clinical effects of OATP2B1 substrates.

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

Black Cohosh and Irinotecan Hydrochloride

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

Minor

ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP)

Why this applies to Irinotecan Hydrochloride

Irinotecan Hydrochloride falls under ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP) — the group Black Cohosh interacts with.

Black cohosh may inhibit one form of OATP, OATP2B1, which could reduce the bioavailability and clinical effects of OATP2B1 substrates.
In vitro research shows that black cohosh modestly inhibits OATP2B1. OATPs are expressed in the small intestine and liver and are responsible for the uptake of drugs and other compounds into the body. Inhibition of OATP may reduce the bioavailability of oral drugs that are substrates of OATP.
Severity Minor 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 gist for irinotecan (Onivyde). Lab studies suggest black cohosh may modestly block a transporter called OATP2B1, which helps move certain drugs into the body. In theory, blocking it could lower how much of an OATP substrate gets absorbed, meaning a bit less drug reaching its target.

For irinotecan specifically, this is reassuring rather than alarming. It's given as an IV infusion in the hospital, not swallowed, so the gut-absorption issue this interaction describes really doesn't apply. On top of that, the evidence is only test-tube data, and the interaction is rated minor. Still, since you're being treated for cancer, your team carefully tracks everything you take. Please run black cohosh by your oncologist or pharmacist before using it, partly because of rare liver concerns during chemo.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Fuchikami H, Satoh H, Tsujimoto M, Ohdo S, Ohtani H, Sawada Y. Effects of herbal extracts on the function of human organic anion-transporting polypeptide OATP-B. Drug Metab Dispos 2006;34:577-82. 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

Black Cohosh Also Interacts With Other Medications

Black Cohosh has 636 moderate, 15 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Irinotecan Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 636 Minor 15 No known interaction 2,179 (incl. Irinotecan Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Black Cohosh

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Irinotecan Hydrochloride

This page covers Black Cohosh only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Irinotecan Hydrochloride page lists 135 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Apple (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Sweet Orange (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 100 moderate · 31 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Irinotecan Hydrochloride page

“Irinotecan hydrochloride is chemotherapy, most often used against colorectal cancer, so the 135 supplements and foods on this page call for genuine care rather than a shrug. Four entries rate major, and St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Irinotecan Hydrochloride interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,472 real supplement products containing Black Cohosh, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Black Cohosh. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Irinotecan Hydrochloride too, on top of Black Cohosh — 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 Black Cohosh and Irinotecan Hydrochloride 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 Black Cohosh
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Irinotecan Hydrochloride
Steady interest

#1,472 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 Black Cohosh

What is Black Cohosh?

Black Cohosh
  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Other menopause symptoms
  • Mood changes during menopause
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Menstrual cramps

Black cohosh is a North American plant most often used to ease menopause symptoms like hot flashes, but the research is mixed and far from settled. It is generally well tolerated for short-term use, though rare reports of liver problems mean you should talk with your pharmacist or doctor before trying it, especially if you have liver disease.

Read the full Black Cohosh monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection

What Is Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection Used For?

  • Irinotecan lipid complex is used in combination with other medications to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body that has worsened after treatment with other chemotherapy medications. Irinotecan lipid complex is in a class of antineoplastic medications called topoisomerase I inhibitors. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.

See full Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Black Cohosh

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

0Major
636Moderate
15Minor
2,178No known interaction
636 Moderate 15 Minor 2,178 No interaction
Moderate

636 interactions

Showing 60 of 636 moderate interactions — see all 636 on the Black Cohosh page.

Minor

15 interactions

No interaction 2,178 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,178 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Black Cohosh list.

See the full Black Cohosh interactions page
See every supplement checked against Irinotecan Hydrochloride, 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
Black Cohosh monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Irinotecan Hydrochloride supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Irinotecan Hydrochloride, ranked by severity Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection 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 Black Cohosh and Irinotecan Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Black Cohosh with Irinotecan Hydrochloride?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Black Cohosh and Irinotecan Hydrochloride interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Irinotecan Hydrochloride and Black Cohosh?

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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.