Drug & supplement interaction

Bupleurum + Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine

Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine brand name: Fiorinal.

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

Bupleurum has a moderate interaction with Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine. Theoretically, bupleurum might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

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

Bupleurum 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 Bupleurum interacts with.

Theoretically, bupleurum might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research suggests that saikosaponins, constituents of bupleurum, can inhibit platelet aggregation.
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 works by making your platelets less sticky, which is how it thins your blood a little. Lab studies suggest bupleurum's saikosaponins may do something similar, so stacking the two could, in theory, add up and make bleeding a bit easier. Think along the lines of easier bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or stomach upset (aspirin is already rough on the stomach lining).

I want to be honest that this is a theoretical concern based only on test-tube research, not real patient cases, so don't panic. Still, since bupleurum has also been tied to liver issues, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hattori T, Ito M, Suzuki Y. [Studies on antinephritic effects of plant components in rats (1). Effects of saikosaponins original-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats and its mechanisms]. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1991;97:13-21. PubMed
  2. Chang WC, Hsu FL. Inhibition of platelet activation and endothelial cell injury by flavan-3-ol and saikosaponin compounds. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1991;44:51-6. 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

Bupleurum Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bupleurum has 326 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.

Moderate 326 No known interaction 2,504 (incl. Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bupleurum

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine

This page covers Bupleurum 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 Bupleurum as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 89 real supplement products containing Bupleurum, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bupleurum. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine too, on top of Bupleurum — 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 Bupleurum 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 Bupleurum
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine
Steady interest

#2,082 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 Bupleurum

What is Bupleurum?

Bupleurum
  • Liver and digestive support
  • Cold, flu, and fever
  • Inflammation
  • Stress and mood
  • Immune support

Bupleurum (Chai Hu) is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine, usually as part of multi-herb formulas, for liver, digestive, and fever-related complaints. High-quality human evidence for its benefits is limited, and it has been linked to lung and liver problems in some reports, so use it cautiously and only under professional guidance.

Read the full Bupleurum monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Aspirin, Butalbital, and Caffeine

What Is Aspirin, Butalbital, and Caffeine Used For?

Brand name: Fiorinal

Butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine capsules are used to relieve the symptom complex of tension headache — also called muscle contraction headache. This includes headache pain, psychic tension, and muscle tightness in the head, neck, and shoulders.

This medicine is intended for short-term use. Evidence supporting its safety and effectiveness for repeated or long-term use in recurrent headaches is not available, and extended use is not recommended because butalbital can be habit-forming.

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

Other Drugs & Bupleurum

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

0Major
326Moderate
0Minor
2,503No known interaction
326 Moderate 2,503 No interaction
Moderate

326 interactions

Showing 60 of 326 moderate interactions — see all 326 on the Bupleurum page.

No interaction 2,503 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,503 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bupleurum list.

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

Can you take Bupleurum 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 Bupleurum 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

Still Have a Question About Aspirin, Butalbital, Caffeine and Bupleurum?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.