Drug & supplement interaction

Brussels Sprout + Irinotecan Hydrochloride

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

Brussels Sprout has a moderate interaction with Irinotecan Hydrochloride. A cabbage and Brussels sprout-containing diet seems to boost elimination through glucuronide conjugation.

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

Brussels Sprout and Irinotecan Hydrochloride

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

Moderate

GLUCURONIDATED DRUGS

Why this applies to Irinotecan Hydrochloride

Irinotecan Hydrochloride falls under GLUCURONIDATED DRUGS — the group Brussels Sprout interacts with.

A cabbage and Brussels sprout-containing diet seems to boost elimination through glucuronide conjugation. Theoretically, these foods might also lower levels of other drugs that are metabolized through glucuronide conjugation, including acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and oxazepam (Serax), haloperidol (Haldol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), morphine (MS Contin, Roxanol), zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the basic idea: irinotecan is cleared from your body partly through a process called glucuronidation, the same pathway that helps you eliminate certain other medicines. Eating a lot of Brussels sprouts (and cabbage) seems to speed that pathway up a bit. In theory, that could nudge your body to clear the active form of irinotecan a little faster, which might slightly lower how much drug is working against your cancer.

I want to be honest about the strength of this. The evidence is limited and mostly theoretical, and normal food portions are very different from concentrated supplements. With a serious chemo drug like this, though, I wouldn't make any diet changes on your own. Please mention your usual Brussels sprout intake to your oncology team or pharmacist so they can weigh in.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pantuck EJ, Pantuck CB, Anderson KE, et al. Effect of brussels sprouts and cabbage on drug conjugation. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1984;35:161-9. 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

Brussels Sprout Also Interacts With Other Medications

Brussels Sprout has 240 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Irinotecan Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 240 No known interaction 2,590 (incl. Irinotecan Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Brussels Sprout

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Irinotecan Hydrochloride

This page covers Brussels Sprout only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Irinotecan Hydrochloride page lists 135 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Apple (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Sweet Orange (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 100 moderate · 31 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Irinotecan Hydrochloride page

“Irinotecan hydrochloride is chemotherapy, most often used against colorectal cancer, so the 135 supplements and foods on this page call for genuine care rather than a shrug. Four entries rate major, and St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Irinotecan Hydrochloride interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Brussels Sprout and Irinotecan Hydrochloride 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 Brussels Sprout
Steady interest

#1,200 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Irinotecan Hydrochloride
Top half

#1,112 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 Brussels Sprout

What is Brussels Sprout?

  • General nutrition and fiber
  • Antioxidant support
  • Digestive health
  • Heart health support
  • Cancer-prevention interest

Brussels sprouts are a nutritious cruciferous vegetable rich in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and plant compounds called glucosinolates. Eating them as part of a balanced diet is healthy and safe for most people, but supplement-style claims (like preventing cancer) are not well proven. If you take blood thinners or have thyroid concerns, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about your intake.

Read the full Brussels Sprout monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection

What Is Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection Used For?

  • Irinotecan lipid complex is used in combination with other medications to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body that has worsened after treatment with other chemotherapy medications. Irinotecan lipid complex is in a class of antineoplastic medications called topoisomerase I inhibitors. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.

See full Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Brussels Sprout

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

0Major
240Moderate
0Minor
2,589No known interaction
240 Moderate 2,589 No interaction
Moderate

240 interactions

Showing 60 of 240 moderate interactions — see all 240 on the Brussels Sprout page.

No interaction 2,589 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,589 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Brussels Sprout list.

See the full Brussels Sprout interactions page
See every supplement checked against Irinotecan Hydrochloride, 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
Brussels Sprout monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Irinotecan Hydrochloride supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Irinotecan Hydrochloride, ranked by severity Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection 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 Brussels Sprout and Irinotecan Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Brussels Sprout with Irinotecan Hydrochloride?
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 Brussels Sprout and Irinotecan Hydrochloride 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 Irinotecan Hydrochloride and Brussels Sprout?

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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.