Drug & supplement interaction

Boneset + Rifabutin

Rifabutin brand name: Mycobutin.

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

Boneset has a moderate interaction with Rifabutin. Boneset belongs to the genus Eupatorium, and many species of this genus contain hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).

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

Boneset and Rifabutin

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INDUCERS

Why this applies to Rifabutin

Rifabutin falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INDUCERS — the group Boneset interacts with.

Boneset belongs to the genus Eupatorium, and many species of this genus contain hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Hepatotoxic PAs are substrates of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Theoretically, drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase the conversion of PAs to toxic metabolites. Some drugs that induce CYP3A4 include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin, rifabutin (Mycobutin), and others.
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 angle on this pairing: boneset can contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, plant compounds that may be hard on the liver. Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to process these compounds, and rifabutin speeds that enzyme up. The worry is that a faster enzyme could turn more of those boneset alkaloids into liver-irritating byproducts, theoretically raising the chance of liver stress.

I want to be honest about the evidence here. This is a theoretical concern based on how the chemistry works, not something proven in people. Still, both boneset and rifabutin can each affect the liver on their own, so combining them isn't something I'd take lightly. Boneset isn't well studied and has real safety question marks. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before using it alongside rifabutin.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  2. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. 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

Boneset Also Interacts With Other Medications

Boneset has 86 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Rifabutin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 86 No known interaction 2,744 (incl. Rifabutin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Boneset

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Boneset or Rifabutin

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

This page covers Boneset only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Rifabutin page lists 180 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 3 major · 136 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Rifabutin page

“Most people on rifabutin (Mycobutin) are treating or preventing serious mycobacterial infections like MAC or tuberculosis, often for months at a time, and this list deserves a careful read before adding a single capsule. Of the 180 supplements with an interaction on file, three carry a major rating, and all three can shift rifabutin's…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Rifabutin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 118 real supplement products containing Boneset, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Boneset. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Rifabutin too, on top of Boneset — 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 Boneset and Rifabutin 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 Boneset
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Rifabutin
Steady interest

#2,668 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 Boneset

What is Boneset?

  • Colds and flu
  • Fever
  • Body aches
  • Congestion
  • Immune support

Boneset is a traditional North American herb long used in teas for fevers, colds, and flu, but modern human studies are very limited. It contains compounds (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) that may harm the liver, so it should be used cautiously and avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Boneset monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Rifabutin

What Is Rifabutin Used For?

Brand name: Mycobutin

Rifabutin capsules are used to prevent disseminated MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) disease — a serious bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body — in adults with advanced HIV infection.

It is not approved as a treatment for active tuberculosis (TB), and it should not be used alone for MAC prophylaxis in anyone who has active TB.

See full Rifabutin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Boneset

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

0Major
86Moderate
0Minor
2,743No known interaction
86 Moderate 2,743 No interaction
Moderate

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 moderate interactions — see all 86 on the Boneset page.

No interaction 2,743 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,743 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Boneset list.

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

Can you take Boneset with Rifabutin?
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 Boneset and Rifabutin 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 Rifabutin and Boneset?

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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.