Drug & supplement interaction

Black Root + Prednisone

Prednisone brand names: Deltasone, Cortan, Orasone, Prednisone, Prednicen-M, and others.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Black Root and Prednisone 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 Prednisone 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.

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Interaction report

Black Root and Prednisone

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 Prednisone and Black Root 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.

Black Root safety at a glance

Black Root overall Use caution Modern safety data are limited and the fresh root can cause significant digestive toxicity.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When the fresh root is used orally. Anecdotally, fresh black root has been reported for have abortifacient and teratogenic effects. However, there is no reliabl... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Avoid while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Prednisone and Black Root? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Prednisone

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Prednisone is filed under 7 classifications — including corticosteroids, cytochrome p450 2c19 (cyp2c19) inducers, immunosuppressants. Black Root has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being digoxin (lanoxin) (moderate), diuretic drugs (moderate) and warfarin (coumadin) (moderate) — and none of Prednisone’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

Black Root Does Interact With Other Medications

Black Root has 78 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Prednisone isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 78 No known interaction 2,752 (incl. Prednisone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Black Root

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Black Root and Prednisone May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Stomach pain / Nausea / Vomiting / Headache reported in 5.7% of FDA reports for Prednisone Additional detail

    Black Root

    “Orally, black root can cause abdominal pain or cramps, changes in stool color or odor, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Hepatotoxicity has been reported after ingestion of large amounts.”

    Black Root · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 6002. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp., 1999.

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Black Root but not commonly for Prednisone: liver problems and drowsiness.

Effects for Prednisone come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Black Root come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 491,135 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Prednisone that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Black Root in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When the fresh root is used orally. Anecdotally, fresh black root has been reported for have abortifacient and teratogenic effects. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence about the effects of black root on pregnancy. Until more is known, black root should not be used during pregnancy.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Prednisone Products Have a Food Rule — Black Root Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Prednisone says to take it with food. If you take Black Root on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Prednisone 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 Prednisone 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.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Gastric irritation may be reduced if taken before, during, or immediately after meals or with food or milk.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Prednisone — 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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Black Root or Prednisone

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

This page covers Black Root only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Prednisone page lists 208 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lily-of-the-valley (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 168 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Prednisone page

“Prednisone (Deltasone) suppresses the immune system to control inflammation, and that mechanism shapes most of what can go wrong on this 208-ingredient list, which I read as one to approach carefully rather than casually. Four entries rate major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Prednisone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 41 real supplement products containing Black Root, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Black Root. Even though Black Root itself has no known interaction with Prednisone, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Black Root and Prednisone 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 Root
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Prednisone
Top 1%

#22 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 Black Root reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Black Root and Prednisone 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 Black Root

What is Black Root?

  • Constipation
  • Liver and gallbladder complaints
  • Digestive upset
  • Stimulating bile flow

Black Root is a traditional North American herb that was historically used as a strong laxative and to support digestion and liver function. There is very little modern scientific evidence to support these uses, and the fresh root can be toxic, so it should be used cautiously, if at all, and never during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Veronicastrum virginicum · Plantaginaceae · Dried root and rhizome · Dried root, tincture, liquid extract, capsules, tea

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

Black Root: dosing

There is no established, standardized dose for Black Root, and modern dosing guidelines are lacking. Traditional preparations used the dried, aged root rather than the fresh root.Because of the risk of toxicity and strong laxative effects, you should not guess at a dose.

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

Read the full Black Root monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Prednisone

What Is Prednisone Used For?

Brand names: Deltasone, Cortan, Orasone, Prednisone, Prednicen-M, Meticorten, Sterapred, Rayos

Prednisone treats a broad range of conditions where the body's immune system is overactive or inflammation needs to be controlled. It works across many organ systems, from the lungs and skin to the joints and blood.

Doctors prescribe it for conditions like asthma, severe allergies, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis flares, certain cancers, and to prevent organ rejection after transplant, among many others.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Prednisone

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (499,938 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 40,822 reports
Dyspnea 34,944 reports
Arthralgia 33,224 reports
Nausea 28,568 reports
Diarrhea 28,439 reports
See full Prednisone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Black Root

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

0Major
78Moderate
0Minor
2,751No known interaction
78 Moderate 2,751 No interaction
Moderate

78 interactions

Showing 60 of 78 moderate interactions — see all 78 on the Black Root page.

No interaction 2,751 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,751 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Black Root list.

See the full Black Root interactions page
See every supplement checked against Prednisone, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Black Root References

The 2 references that drive our Black Root 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. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  2. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp., 1999.

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 Black Root and Prednisone Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Black Root with Prednisone?
We do not list a known interaction between Black Root and Prednisone. 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.
Do Black Root and Prednisone have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Black Root and Prednisone at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Prednisone says to take it with food. If you take Black Root on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Prednisone with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Prednisone products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Black Root and Prednisone combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Prednisone is filed under 7 classifications, and Black Root has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Prednisone'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 Black Root interact with any other medications?
Yes. Black Root has 78 documented drug interactions in our database — Prednisone 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 Prednisone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Prednisone has documented interactions with 208 supplements in our database — Black Root is not one of them. The Prednisone interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Black Root monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Prednisone drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Prednisone supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Prednisone, 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 References The 2 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Prednisone and Black Root?

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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.