Drug & supplement interaction

Buchu + Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft brand name: Besremi.

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

Buchu has a moderate interaction with Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft. Buchu contains pulegone, a known hepatotoxin.

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

Buchu and Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft

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

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Buchu interacts with.

Buchu contains pulegone, a known hepatotoxin. There is some concern that buchu may adversely affect the liver, especially when the leaf is used in large doses or the oil is ingested. Theoretically, concomitant use with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver damage. Some of these drugs include acarbose (Precose, Prandase), amiodarone (Cordarone), atorvastatin (Lipitor), azathioprine (Imuran), carbamazepine (Tegretol), cerivastatin (Baycol), diclofenac (Voltaren), felbamate (Felbatol), fenofibrate (Tricor), fluvastatin (Lescol), gemfibrozil (Lopid), isoniazid, itraconazole, (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), leflunomide (Arava), lovastatin (Mevacor), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), nevirapine (Viramune), niacin, nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin), pioglitazone (Actos), pravastatin (Pravachol), pyrazinamide, rifampin (Rifadin), ritonavir (Norvir), rosiglitazone (Avandia), simvastatin (Zocor), tacrine (Cognex), tamoxifen, terbinafine (Lamisil), valproic acid, and zileuton (Zyflo)
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 simple version: buchu leaf contains a compound called pulegone that can be tough on the liver, especially in concentrated supplement doses or if the essential oil is swallowed. Besremi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b) can already stress the liver on its own, and one of the known side effects of this medication is raised liver enzymes. So the worry is that stacking buchu on top could add to that liver burden.

I want to be honest about the strength of this concern. It is theoretical, based on how these substances behave, not on real-world reports of the two together. Still, since your medical team likely checks your liver labs and blood counts on Besremi anyway, it's worth mentioning buchu to your doctor or pharmacist before adding it. Please don't change your injection schedule on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Moolla A, Viljoen AM. 'Buchu' - Agathosma betulina and Agathosma crenulata (Retaceae): a review. J Ethnopharmacol 2008;119(3):413-9.

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 480 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 480 No known interaction 2,350 (incl. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft)
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 Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft

This page covers Buchu only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft page lists 57 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angelica Archangelica (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 53 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft page

“Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft (Besremi), the long-acting interferon injected for polycythemia vera, carries liver toxicity as one of its own known risks, so the 57 supplements and herbs on this page deserve genuine care rather than a quick skim. Thirty-eight of them can also stress the liver, and that overlap is what earns all three maj…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft 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 Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft 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 Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft
Steady interest

#2,680 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 Ropeginterferon alfa-2b

What Is Ropeginterferon alfa-2b Used For?

Brand name: Besremi

BESREMi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b) is used to treat two conditions in adults: polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disorder where the body makes too many red blood cells, and essential thrombocythemia, a condition where the bone marrow makes too many platelets.

Both conditions are given as subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injections of BESREMi, including the BESREMi Pen delivery option.

See full Ropeginterferon alfa-2b 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
480Moderate
0Minor
2,349No known interaction
480 Moderate 2,349 No interaction
Moderate

480 interactions

Showing 60 of 480 moderate interactions — see all 480 on the Buchu page.

No interaction 2,349 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 2,349 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Buchu list.

See the full Buchu interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft, 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
Buchu monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft, ranked by severity Ropeginterferon alfa-2b 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 Buchu and Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft Together: Common Questions

Can you take Buchu with Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft?
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 Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft 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 Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft and Buchu?

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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.