Drug & supplement interaction

Breadfruit + Amiodarone

Amiodarone brand names: Pacerone, Cordarone.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Amiodarone falls into 2 drug categories that Breadfruit can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Breadfruit might increase the levels of drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) enzymes.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Breadfruit and Amiodarone

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Breadfruit interacts with whole categories of medication. Amiodarone falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Breadfruit in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Amiodarone

Amiodarone falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) SUBSTRATES — the group Breadfruit interacts with.

Breadfruit might increase the levels of drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) enzymes. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, in vitro evidence shows that the breadfruit constituent artocarpin inhibits CYP2C8 enzymes, which might increase the levels of CYP2C8 substrates. Some drugs metabolized by CYP2C8 include amiodarone (Cardarone), paclitaxel (Taxol); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren) and ibuprofen (Motrin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), 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 gist: a compound in breadfruit leaves called artocarpin can block an enzyme named CYP2C8, which is one of the pathways your body uses to clear amiodarone. If that pathway slows down, amiodarone levels could creep up, and since amiodarone is a powerful heart rhythm drug with a narrow safety window, even small increases matter. In theory that could mean more side effects like a very slow heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue, or thyroid and liver issues.

The important caveat: this is only seen in lab studies, never reported in real people, so it's far from certain. Eating breadfruit as food is unlikely to be a problem. Concentrated leaf teas or extracts are the bigger question mark, so please check with your pharmacist or doctor before using them.

References
  1. Qu W, Liu X. Identification of cytochrome P450 isoforms involved in the metabolism of artocarpin and assessment of its drug-drug interaction. Biomed Chromatogr. 2018;32(4). PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Amiodarone also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, breadfruit might inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes; until more is known, use with caution. In vitro, the breadfruit constituent artocarpin can inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes. Also, animal research shows that breadfruit leaf extract can weakly inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes. However, it is unclear if this inhibitory activity causes a clinically meaningful effect on the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.
Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include amitriptyline (Elavil), amiodarone (Cordarone), citalopram (Celexa), felodipine (Plendil), lansoprazole (Prevacid), ondansetron (Zofran), prednisone (Deltasone), sertraline (Zoloft), and many others.
Severity Minor 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 gist. Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to help break down amiodarone. Some lab and animal studies hint that compounds in breadfruit leaves (like artocarpin) may gently slow this enzyme down. In theory, slowing it could let amiodarone build up a bit, and since amiodarone is a narrow-margin heart drug, even small shifts can matter. Higher levels could mean more dizziness, very slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, or worsening of its known thyroid, lung, or liver effects over time.

That said, this is only a theoretical concern from test-tube and animal work, not proven in people. Eating breadfruit as food is unlikely to be an issue. Concentrated leaf teas or extracts are the bigger question mark, so please run those past your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Nwokocha CR, Owu DU, McLaren M, et al. Possible mechanisms of action of the aqueous extract of Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit) leaves in producing hypotension in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats. Pharm Biol. 2012;50(9):1096-102.
  2. Qu W, Liu X. Identification of cytochrome P450 isoforms involved in the metabolism of artocarpin and assessment of its drug-drug interaction. Biomed Chromatogr. 2018;32(4). 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

Breadfruit Also Interacts With Other Medications

Breadfruit has 437 moderate, 506 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Amiodarone one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Breadfruit

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Breadfruit or Amiodarone

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

This page covers Breadfruit only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Amiodarone page lists 210 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Beer (major) and Cesium (major).

By severity: 11 major · 163 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Amiodarone page

“Amiodarone (Pacerone, Cordarone) treats dangerous heart rhythms, and this is one supplement list I would genuinely be careful with. Of the 210 ingredients on file, 11 carry a major rating, and the everyday one is grapefruit, which blocks the liver enzyme that clears amiodarone and can push the drug's level higher than intended.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Amiodarone interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Breadfruit and Amiodarone 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 Breadfruit
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Amiodarone
Top half

#1,024 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 Breadfruit

What is Breadfruit?

  • Source of nutrition and energy
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes and blood sugar support
  • Inflammation and joint discomfort
  • Skin conditions

Breadfruit is a starchy tropical fruit eaten as a staple food, and its leaves are used in traditional medicine for conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. As a food it is nutritious and generally safe, but the medicinal use of leaf teas or extracts has very little human research to back it up. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using breadfruit products for a health condition.

Read the full Breadfruit monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Amiodarone

What Is Amiodarone Used For?

Brand names: Pacerone, Cordarone

Amiodarone treats dangerous rhythm problems that start in the lower chambers of the heart: ventricular fibrillation and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia. In both, the heart beats so abnormally that blood pressure and blood flow can drop.

The tablets (including Pacerone) are for adults with documented, life-threatening, recurrent episodes who have not responded to other antiarrhythmics or cannot tolerate them. The IV injection (including Nexterone) is for starting treatment and preventing frequently recurring episodes in patients who are refractory to other therapy. Injection can also be used when someone needs oral amiodarone but cannot take medicine by mouth.

See full Amiodarone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Breadfruit

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

0Major
437Moderate
506Minor
1,886No known interaction
Moderate

437 interactions

Showing 60 of 437 moderate interactions — see all 437 on the Breadfruit page.

Minor

506 interactions

Showing 60 of 506 minor interactions — see all 506 on the Breadfruit page.

No interaction 1,886 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,886 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Breadfruit list.

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
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Breadfruit and Amiodarone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Breadfruit with Amiodarone?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Breadfruit and Amiodarone?
Amiodarone belongs to more than one drug category, and Breadfruit interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Breadfruit and Amiodarone 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 Amiodarone and Breadfruit?

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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.