Drug & supplement interaction

Buchu + Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine

Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine brand name: Fiorinal.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Buchu has a moderate interaction with Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine. Buchu may have antiplatelet effects. Theoretically, buchu may enhance the effects of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs and increase the risk of bleeding in some patients.

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

Buchu and Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine

Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Buchu interacts with.

Buchu may have antiplatelet effects. Theoretically, buchu may enhance the effects of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs and increase the risk of bleeding in some patients. Some anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), 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 thing to keep in mind with Fiorinal: the aspirin part already thins your blood a bit by making platelets less sticky. Buchu is thought to have its own mild blood-thinning, antiplatelet action too. Put the two together and you could, in theory, add to that effect and bump up your chance of bleeding or bruising more easily.

I'll be honest with you, this is based on weak, anecdotal evidence, not solid studies, so for most people it's a low-key concern. Still, watch for things like easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or dark stools. If you notice any of that, or you're on this combo regularly, just check in with your pharmacist or doctor before adding buchu.

References
  1. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp., 1999.

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

Buchu Also Interacts With Other Medications

Buchu has 482 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Buchu

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine

This page covers Buchu only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine page lists 347 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 13 major · 285 moderate · 49 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine page

“The aspirin inside Fiorinal (aspirin, butalbital, caffeine) is the reason this list deserves careful reading rather than a quick skim. More than 200 of the supplements and herbs on file can thin the blood further and raise bleeding risk on top of aspirin's own antiplatelet effect, and even ordinary alcohol, beer and wine included, carr…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 128 real supplement products containing Buchu, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Buchu. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine too, on top of Buchu — 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 Buchu and Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine 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 Buchu
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine
Top 5%

#113 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 Buchu

What is Buchu?

Buchu
  • Urinary tract complaints
  • Diuretic (increasing urine flow)
  • Bloating and fluid retention
  • Mild digestive upset
  • Antimicrobial/antiseptic use
  • Flavoring and fragrance

Buchu is a fragrant South African shrub whose leaves are traditionally used for urinary and bladder complaints and as a diuretic. Solid human studies are lacking, so its benefits are largely unproven, and it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have kidney or liver problems.

Read the full Buchu monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Aspirin, Butalbital, and Caffeine

What Is Aspirin, Butalbital, and Caffeine Used For?

Brand name: Fiorinal

This combination is used to relieve the symptoms of tension (or muscle contraction) headache. The supported product is the oral capsule.

There is no evidence that it works or is safe for multiple recurrent headaches. Caution is needed because butalbital is habit-forming and can be abused.

See full Aspirin, Butalbital, and Caffeine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Buchu

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

0Major
482Moderate
0Minor
2,347No known interaction
Moderate

482 interactions

Showing 60 of 482 moderate interactions — see all 482 on the Buchu page.

No interaction 2,347 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,347 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Buchu 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Buchu and Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Buchu with Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine?
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 Buchu and Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine 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

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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.