Borage - Amitriptyline, Perphenazine Interaction
Herbal: Borage
Also Known As: Bee Plant, Beebread, Borage Oil, Borage Seed Oil, Borago, Borraja, Burage, Burrage, Common Borage, Common Bugloss, Cool Tankard, Ox's Tongue, Starflower, Starflower Oil, Talewort
Drug: Amitriptyline, Perphenazine
Brand names:
Triavil, Etrafon, Etrafon-A, Etrafon-Forte
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
May 11, 2025
Interaction Details
Amitriptyline, Perphenazine is classified as belonging to the following category: Phenothiazines
Theoretically, taking borage sed oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of seizures.
Borage seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines. This is based on limited data from two reports published in the 1980s. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with evening primrose, another source of GLA. However, none experienced an actual seizure. In the other report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures. It is unclear whether evening primrose had any additive epileptogenic effects with the phenothiazines, but there is no evidence that taking GLA-containing supplements alone can cause seizures.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
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
References
- Holman CP and Bell AF. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J Orhtomolecular Psych 1983;12:302-304.
- Vaddadi KS. The use of gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6(4):375-379.
- Puri BK. The safety of evening primrose oil in epilepsy. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 2007;77:101-3.
Borage Overview
Borage (Borago officinalis) is an herb native to the Mediterranean region. It is known for its hairy, light blue flowers and hairy, hairy leaves.
In herbal medicine, borage is used to treat a wide range of health conditions, including respiratory problems, inflammation, and anxiety. It is also used to stimulate the appetite and to help improve mood. Borage oil, which is extracted from the seeds of the plant and contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, is used topically to treat skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.
Borage must be used cautiously if taken orally as the plant parts may contain liver-toxic compounds (pyrrolizidine alkaloids). It is important to only ingest preparations that are free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Borage - More Interactions
Borage interacts with 222 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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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
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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