Drug & supplement interaction

Bloodroot + Penicillamine

Penicillamine brand names: Cuprimine, Depen Titratable.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bloodroot and Penicillamine 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 Penicillamine 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

Bloodroot and Penicillamine

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 Penicillamine and Bloodroot 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 Bloodroot at all — not against Penicillamine, 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.

Bloodroot safety at a glance

Bloodroot overall Avoid Bloodroot is potentially toxic and corrosive, and we do not recommend it for self-treatment.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

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 Penicillamine and Bloodroot? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Bloodroot and Penicillamine 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.

  • Nausea / Vomiting reported in 10.5% of FDA reports for Penicillamine Additional detail

    Bloodroot

    “Orally, bloodroot is generally well tolerated when used in appropriate doses, short term (4). Nausea, vomiting, and central nervous system depression have been reported. Higher oral doses can result in glaucoma, hypotension, shock, and coma (6,12).”

    Bloodroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in depression.

    6 sources cited
    1. 4. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
    2. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    3. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
    4. 36666. Eversole, L. R., Eversole, G. M., and Kopcik, J. Sanguinaria-associated oral leukoplakia: comparison with other benign and dysplastic leukoplakic lesions. Oral Surg.Oral Med.Oral Pathol.Oral Radiol.Endod. 2000;89(4):455-464. PubMed
    5. 36668. Allen, C. L., Loudon, J., and Mascarenhas, A. K. Sanguinaria-related leukoplakia: epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of a recently described entity. Gen.Dent. 2001;49(6):608-614.
    6. 36707. Cullinan, M. P., Powell, R. N., Faddy, M. J., and Seymour, G. J. Efficacy of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguinaria extract in conjunction with initial periodontal therapy. Aust.Dent.J. 1997;42(1):47-51. PubMed

    “Orally, bloodroot may cause nausea and vomiting (12). Some research shows that bloodroot-containing toothpastes and mouth rinses can be used for up to six months without evidence of adverse effects. However observational research has found an association between chronic use of bloodroot toothpaste or mouthwash and leukoplakia or keratoses of the mouth and lip.”

    Bloodroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    5 sources cited
    1. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
    2. 36679. Kuftinec, M. M., Mueller-Joseph, L. J., and Kopczyk, R. A. Sanguinaria toothpaste and oral rinse regimen clinical efficacy in short- and long-term trials. J.Can.Dent.Assoc. 1990;56(7 Suppl):31-33.
    3. 36666. Eversole, L. R., Eversole, G. M., and Kopcik, J. Sanguinaria-associated oral leukoplakia: comparison with other benign and dysplastic leukoplakic lesions. Oral Surg.Oral Med.Oral Pathol.Oral Radiol.Endod. 2000;89(4):455-464. PubMed
    4. 36668. Allen, C. L., Loudon, J., and Mascarenhas, A. K. Sanguinaria-related leukoplakia: epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of a recently described entity. Gen.Dent. 2001;49(6):608-614.
    5. 36707. Cullinan, M. P., Powell, R. N., Faddy, M. J., and Seymour, G. J. Efficacy of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguinaria extract in conjunction with initial periodontal therapy. Aust.Dent.J. 1997;42(1):47-51. PubMed

    Penicillamine

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

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Bloodroot

    “Topically, skin contact with fresh bloodroot can cause irritation or contact dermatitis (19). Topical application of bloodroot can corrode skin and produce a thick dry scab called an eschar which falls off and results in a depressed scar. There are numerous cases of patients applying bloodroot salves topically for 3-4 hours daily for 3-12 days to skin cancers, moles and blemishes.”

    Bloodroot · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    6 sources cited
    1. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
    2. 53499. Affleck, A. G. and Varma, S. A case of do-it-yourself Mohs' surgery using bloodroot obtained from the internet. Br.J Dermatol 2007;157(5):1078-1079. PubMed
    3. 95442. Cienki JJ, Zaret L. An Internet misadventure: bloodroot salve toxicity. J Altern Complement Med. 2010;16(10):1125-7. PubMed
    4. 95444. Hou JL, Brewer JD. Black salve and bloodroot extract in dermatologic conditions. Cutis. 2015;95(6):309-11.
    5. 95445. Schilling LM, Saedi N. Bloodroot paste: what dermatologists and patients need to know. Dermatol Surg 2016;42(10):1223-4. PubMed
    6. 95446. Schlichte MJ, Downing CP, Ramirez-Fort M, Gordon R, Tyring S. Bloodroot associated eschar. Dermatol Online J 2014;20(7). DOI

    Penicillamine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Penicillamine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Bloodroot but not commonly for Penicillamine: low blood pressure.

Effects for Penicillamine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Bloodroot come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 917 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Penicillamine 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

Bloodroot in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

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 Penicillamine Products Have a Food Rule — Bloodroot Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Penicillamine says to take it on an empty stomach. Most supplements — Bloodroot included — are taken with a meal, so the easy mistake is swallowing both together at breakfast. Where that rule applies, keep Penicillamine on its own and move Bloodroot to a meal later in the day.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Penicillamine 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 In all patients receiving penicillamine, it is important that CUPRIMINE be given on an empty stomach, at least one hour before meals or two hours after meals, and at least one hour apart from any other drug, food, or milk.

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Penicillamine

This page covers Bloodroot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Penicillamine page lists 26 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Aristolochia (moderate) and Coffee Charcoal (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 13 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Penicillamine page

“People take penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen) for demanding conditions, Wilson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cystinuria, and its 26 supplement interactions are not a list to skim, three of them rated major. Seventeen ingredients can keep an oral dose from being fully absorbed, activated charcoal chief among them, and six more can str…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Penicillamine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 68 real supplement products containing Bloodroot, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bloodroot. Even though Bloodroot itself has no known interaction with Penicillamine, 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 Bloodroot and Penicillamine 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 Bloodroot
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Penicillamine
Steady interest

#2,484 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 Bloodroot reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Bloodroot and Penicillamine 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 Bloodroot

What is Bloodroot?

  • Skin growths, moles, and warts (topical)
  • Dental plaque and gum health
  • Sore throat and cough (traditional)
  • Antimicrobial uses
  • Folk remedy for skin cancer (unproven and dangerous)

Bloodroot is a North American plant whose red root sap contains potent alkaloids that are corrosive to skin and tissue. It has a long folk history, but there is no good evidence it safely treats skin cancer or other diseases, and 'black salve' products containing it can cause serious skin damage and scarring. We recommend avoiding internal use and skin-eroding products entirely.

Sanguinaria canadensis · Papaveraceae · Rhizome (root) and the red-orange sap it contains · Pastes and salves (often called 'black salve'), tinctures, mouthwash and toothpaste ingredients, and occasionally capsules

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

Bloodroot: dosing

There is no established safe or standardized dose of bloodroot for any health condition. Always read product labels, and never apply skin-eroding 'black salve' products to moles, warts, or any growth.

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

Read the full Bloodroot monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Penicillamine

What Is Penicillamine Used For?

Brand names: Cuprimine, Depen Titratable

Penicillamine is used for three distinct conditions. It treats Wilson's disease — a rare genetic disorder in which the body accumulates dangerous levels of copper — by binding to the excess copper and helping the body remove it. It also treats cystinuria, a condition where the amino acid cystine builds up and forms painful kidney stones, by converting cystine into a more soluble form that the body can excrete more easily.

For patients with severe, active rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded adequately to conventional therapies, penicillamine (available as Aagylur, Cuprimine, Depen, and other products) may be used to help suppress disease activity and reduce joint pain, tenderness, and swelling.

See full Penicillamine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bloodroot

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bloodroot list.

See the full Bloodroot interactions page
See every supplement checked against Penicillamine, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Bloodroot References

The 17 references that drive our Bloodroot 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. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  5. Tenenbaum, H., Dahan, M., and Soell, M. Effectiveness of a sanguinarine regimen after scaling and root planing. J Periodontol. 1999;70(3):307-311. PubMed
  6. Eversole, L. R., Eversole, G. M., and Kopcik, J. Sanguinaria-associated oral leukoplakia: comparison with other benign and dysplastic leukoplakic lesions. Oral Surg.Oral Med.Oral Pathol.Oral Radiol.Endod. 2000;89(4):455-464. PubMed
  7. Allen, C. L., Loudon, J., and Mascarenhas, A. K. Sanguinaria-related leukoplakia: epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of a recently described entity. Gen.Dent. 2001;49(6):608-614.
  8. Kopczyk, R. A., Abrams, H., Brown, A. T., Matheny, J. L., and Kaplan, A. L. Clinical and microbiological effects of a sanguinaria-containing mouthrinse and dentifrice with and without fluoride during 6 months of use. J.Periodontol. 1991;62(10):617-622. PubMed
  9. Harper, D. S., Mueller, L. J., Fine, J. B., Gordon, J., and Laster, L. L. Clinical efficacy of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguinaria extract and zinc chloride during 6 months of use. J.Periodontol. 1990;61(6):352-358. PubMed
  10. Kuftinec, M. M., Mueller-Joseph, L. J., and Kopczyk, R. A. Sanguinaria toothpaste and oral rinse regimen clinical efficacy in short- and long-term trials. J.Can.Dent.Assoc. 1990;56(7 Suppl):31-33.
  11. Frankos, V. H., Brusick, D. J., Johnson, E. M., Maibach, H. I., Munro, I., Squire, R. A., and Weil, C. S. Safety of Sanguinaria extract as used in commercial toothpaste and oral rinse products. J.Can.Dent.Assoc. 1990;56(7 Suppl):41-47.
  12. Cullinan, M. P., Powell, R. N., Faddy, M. J., and Seymour, G. J. Efficacy of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguinaria extract in conjunction with initial periodontal therapy. Aust.Dent.J. 1997;42(1):47-51. PubMed
  13. Affleck, A. G. and Varma, S. A case of do-it-yourself Mohs' surgery using bloodroot obtained from the internet. Br.J Dermatol 2007;157(5):1078-1079. PubMed
  14. Cienki JJ, Zaret L. An Internet misadventure: bloodroot salve toxicity. J Altern Complement Med. 2010;16(10):1125-7. PubMed
  15. Hou JL, Brewer JD. Black salve and bloodroot extract in dermatologic conditions. Cutis. 2015;95(6):309-11.

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 Bloodroot and Penicillamine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bloodroot with Penicillamine?
We do not list a known interaction between Bloodroot and Penicillamine. 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 Bloodroot and Penicillamine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 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 Bloodroot and Penicillamine at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Penicillamine says to take it on an empty stomach, and supplements are usually taken with a meal — so taking them together at breakfast is the easy mistake. Where that applies, keep Penicillamine on its own and move Bloodroot to a meal later in the day. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient, so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Penicillamine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Penicillamine has documented interactions with 26 supplements in our database — Bloodroot is not one of them. The Penicillamine 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

Bloodroot monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Penicillamine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Penicillamine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Penicillamine, 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 17 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Penicillamine and Bloodroot?

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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.