Drug & supplement interaction

Boldo + Lamivudine, Zidovudine

Lamivudine, Zidovudine brand name: Combivir.

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

Boldo has a moderate interaction with Lamivudine, Zidovudine. Theoretically, taking boldo with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of hepatic injury and disease.

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

Boldo and Lamivudine, Zidovudine

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

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Lamivudine, Zidovudine

Lamivudine, Zidovudine falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Boldo interacts with.

Theoretically, taking boldo with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of hepatic injury and disease.
Boldo leaf contains ascaridole, a known liver toxin. Many cases of hepatotoxicity, including elevated liver transaminase levels and jaundice, have been reported in patients taking boldo.
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 concern with pairing Combivir (lamivudine and zidovudine) with boldo. This isn't about boldo speeding up or slowing down how your body clears the medicine. It's simpler than that: both can be hard on the liver. Zidovudine in particular can raise liver enzymes and, rarely, cause more serious liver trouble. Boldo leaf contains ascaridole, a compound that's also known to stress the liver. Stacking two liver burdens together may add up.

To be fair, this warning is mostly theoretical and based on scattered case reports, not strong studies. Still, I'd play it safe. Watch for yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, belly pain, or unusual fatigue, and check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding boldo.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Piscaglia F, Leoni S, Venturi A, et al. Caution in the use of boldo in herbal laxatives: a case of hepatotoxicity. Scand J Gastroenterol 2005;40:236-9. PubMed
  2. Ribeiro RJ, Silvestre C, Duarte C. Hidden risks of alternative medicines: a case of boldo-induced hepatotoxicity. J Diet Suppl 2017;14(2):186-90. PubMed
  3. Oliveira Sá A, Pimentel T, Oliveira N. Boldo-Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Case of Unexplained Jaundice. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2020;7(12):002116. 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

Boldo Also Interacts With Other Medications

Boldo has 481 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Lamivudine, Zidovudine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 481 No known interaction 2,349 (incl. Lamivudine, Zidovudine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Boldo

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lamivudine, Zidovudine

This page covers Boldo only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lamivudine, Zidovudine page lists 60 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 47 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lamivudine, Zidovudine page

“Combivir (lamivudine plus zidovudine) treats HIV, and this list deserves real care, mostly because so many entries can compound strain on the liver. Zidovudine already asks a lot of that organ, and 38 of the 60 supplements on file, from ashwagandha to comfrey, add liver risk of their own.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lamivudine, Zidovudine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 173 real supplement products containing Boldo, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Boldo. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Lamivudine, Zidovudine too, on top of Boldo — 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 Boldo and Lamivudine, Zidovudine 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 Boldo
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lamivudine, Zidovudine
Top 25%

#637 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 Boldo

What is Boldo?

Boldo
  • Indigestion and bloating
  • Mild constipation
  • Liver and gallbladder support
  • Appetite stimulation
  • Urinary complaints

Boldo is a South American shrub whose leaves are traditionally used for digestive and gallbladder complaints, but good human evidence is very limited. The leaves and oil contain ascaridole, which can be toxic to the liver, so only ascaridole-free products should be used and only for short periods. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before trying it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Boldo monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lamivudine and Zidovudine

What Is Lamivudine and Zidovudine Used For?

Brand name: Combivir

Lamivudine and zidovudine tablets — sold as Combivir and as the generic lamivudine and zidovudine — are used in combination with other antiretroviral medications to treat HIV-1 infection in adults, adolescents, and children who weigh at least 30 kg (about 66 lbs).

This medication is not meant to be taken alone. It is always part of a broader antiretroviral regimen prescribed by a healthcare provider.

See full Lamivudine and Zidovudine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Boldo

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

0Major
481Moderate
0Minor
2,348No known interaction
481 Moderate 2,348 No interaction
Moderate

481 interactions

Showing 60 of 481 moderate interactions — see all 481 on the Boldo page.

No interaction 2,348 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,348 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Boldo list.

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

Can you take Boldo with Lamivudine, Zidovudine?
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 Boldo and Lamivudine, Zidovudine 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 Lamivudine, Zidovudine and Boldo?

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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.