Drug & supplement interaction

Bulbine Natalensis + Dapsone

Dapsone brand names: Dapsone, Avlosulfon, Aczone.

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

Bulbine Natalensis has a moderate interaction with Dapsone. Theoretically, Bulbine natalensis stem might reduce the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Bulbine Natalensis and Dapsone

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Dapsone

Dapsone falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Bulbine Natalensis interacts with.

Theoretically, Bulbine natalensis stem might reduce the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Bulbine natalensis stem extract induces CYP3A4 mRNA expression and enzyme activity. Theoretically, this may increase the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates, but this has not been studied in humans.
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 for Dapsone: your liver partly relies on an enzyme called CYP3A4 to process it. In lab dish studies (not in people), Bulbine natalensis seemed to speed up that enzyme. If that held true in the body, your liver could clear Dapsone a little faster, which might leave less drug working against your leprosy or skin infection and could weaken how well it controls the condition.

I want to be honest, though: this is purely theoretical, based on test-tube data, and has never been confirmed in humans. So I'm not raising alarm bells. Given the liver and kidney concerns already tied to this supplement, please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining the two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Husain I, Dale OR, Manda V, et al. Bulbine natalensis (currently Bulbine latifolia) and select bulbine knipholones modulate the activity of AhR, CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and P-gp. Planta Med 2022;88(12):975-984. 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

Bulbine Natalensis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bulbine Natalensis has 918 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Dapsone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 918 No known interaction 1,912 (incl. Dapsone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bulbine Natalensis

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dapsone

This page covers Bulbine Natalensis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dapsone page lists 215 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Para-aminobenzoic Acid (paba) (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 167 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dapsone page

“Dapsone treats serious conditions, from dermatitis herpetiformis to leprosy, and its supplement list is one I'd want a patient to read closely rather than skim. Most entries touch how the body handles dapsone through the CYP3A4 enzyme, so grapefruit can raise its blood level while St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dapsone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 51 real supplement products containing Bulbine Natalensis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bulbine Natalensis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Dapsone too, on top of Bulbine Natalensis — 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 Bulbine Natalensis and Dapsone 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 Bulbine Natalensis
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Dapsone
Top 5%

#92 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 Bulbine Natalensis

What is Bulbine Natalensis?

  • Boosting testosterone
  • Improving libido
  • Muscle building and athletic performance
  • General male vitality

Bulbine natalensis is a South African plant marketed mainly as a testosterone-boosting and libido supplement, but the human evidence is essentially absent and most claims come from animal studies. Animal research has also raised concerns about possible liver and kidney harm at higher doses, so caution is warranted. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Read the full Bulbine Natalensis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Dapsone

What Is Dapsone Used For?

Brand names: Dapsone, Avlosulfon, Aczone

Dapsone tablets are used to treat dermatitis herpetiformis (a chronic, intensely itchy blistering skin condition) and leprosy (all forms, except where proven resistance to dapsone exists). For leprosy, dapsone tablets are typically used in combination with other anti-leprosy medicines.

Aczone Gel (dapsone gel, 7.5%) and dapsone gel are indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 9 years of age and older. This topical form is applied to the skin and is not used for leprosy or dermatitis herpetiformis.

See full Dapsone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bulbine Natalensis

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

0Major
918Moderate
0Minor
1,911No known interaction
918 Moderate 1,911 No interaction
Moderate

918 interactions

Showing 60 of 918 moderate interactions — see all 918 on the Bulbine Natalensis page.

No interaction 1,911 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,911 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bulbine Natalensis list.

See the full Bulbine Natalensis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Dapsone, 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
Bulbine Natalensis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Dapsone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Dapsone, ranked by severity Dapsone 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 Bulbine Natalensis and Dapsone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bulbine Natalensis with Dapsone?
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 Bulbine Natalensis and Dapsone 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 Dapsone and Bulbine Natalensis?

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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.