Drug & supplement interaction

Bupleurum + Ceftriaxone

Ceftriaxone brand name: Rocephin.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Ceftriaxone and Bupleurum in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Bupleurum safety at a glance

Bupleurum overall Use caution Generally used short-term in formulas, but it has been linked to rare lung and liver problems and quality varies.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety information, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Ceftriaxone and Bupleurum? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Ceftriaxone

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Ceftriaxone is filed under 6 classifications — including organic anion transporter 3 (oat3) substrates, organic anion transporter 1 (oat1) substrates, antibiotic drugs. Bupleurum has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), antidiabetes drugs (moderate) and immunosuppressants (moderate) — and none of Ceftriaxone’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Bupleurum Does Interact With Other Medications

Bupleurum has 327 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Ceftriaxone isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 327 No known interaction 2,503 (incl. Ceftriaxone)
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.

What to actually watch for

What Bupleurum Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Ceftriaxone. It is the side-effect record for Bupleurum on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Bupleurum, this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Liver problems / A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, combination products containing bupleurum have been reported to cause eosinophilic pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and multiple cases of pneumonitis. A specific combination product (sho-saiko-to), used in combination with interferon-alpha in patients with chronic active hepatitis, has also been associated with multiple cases of pneumonitis.”

    Bupleurum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hepatitis.

    6 sources cited
    1. 354. Kobashi Y, Nakajima M, Niki Y, Matsushima T. [A case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia due to Sho-saiko-to]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1997;35:1372-7.
    2. 361. Miyazaki E, Ando M, Ih K, et al. [Pulmonary edema associated with the Chinese medicine shosaikoto]. Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi 1998;36:776-80.
    3. 355. Wada Y, Kubo M. [Acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated by type C hepatitis during treatment and further by acute interstitial pneumonia due to sho-saiko-to in 7-year-old]. Arerugi 1997;46:1148-55.
    4. 356. Sato A, Toyoshima M, Kondo A, et al. [Pneumonitis induced by the herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to in Japan]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1997;35:391-5.
    5. 357. Daibo A, Yoshida Y, Kitazawa S, et al. [A case of pneumonitis and hepatic injury caused by a herbal drug (sho-saiko-to)]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1992;30:1583-8.
    6. 37404. Sugiyama H, Nagai M, Kotajima F, and et al. [A case of interstitial pneumonia with chronic hepatitis C following interferon-alfa and sho-saiko-to therapy]. Arerugi 1995;44(7):711-714.
  • Numbness or tingling / Tiredness Additional detail

    “Orally, a specific bupleurum-containing combination product (sho-saiko-to) has been reported to cause fatigue and paresthesia. It is unclear if these adverse effects are due to bupleurum, other ingredients, or the combination.”

    Bupleurum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fatigue.

    1 source cited
    1. 37391. Hirayama, C., Okumura, M., Tanikawa, K., and et al. A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn 1989;24(6):715-719. PubMed
  • Reduced appetite / Nausea Additional detail

    “Orally, a specific bupleurum-containing combination product (sho-saiko-to) has been reported to cause nausea, anorexia, and abdominal fullness. It is unclear if these adverse effects are due to bupleurum, other ingredients, or the combination.”

    Bupleurum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.

    1 source cited
    1. 37391. Hirayama, C., Okumura, M., Tanikawa, K., and et al. A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn 1989;24(6):715-719. PubMed
  • Swelling Additional detail

    Recorded for Bupleurum in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Liver problems / A higher chance of infection above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Bupleurum — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Ceftriaxone to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Ceftriaxone.

Overlapping uses

What Ceftriaxone Is Prescribed For, and What Bupleurum Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Ceftriaxone is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Bupleurum is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Ceftriaxone is prescribed for: Ceftriaxone Injection is used to treat bacterial infections in many parts of the body, including the lungs (lower respiratory tract infections), urinary tract, skin, bones and joints, abdomen, and bloodstream (septicemia). It also treats bacterial meningitis (infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord), pelvic inflammatory disease, acute bacterial ear infections (otitis media), and gonorrhea. In addition, a single dose of ceftriaxone may be given before certain surgeries — such as hysterectomy, gallbladder surgery, or coronary artery bypass surgery — to help prevent postoperative infection. It works only against bacterial infections; it will not treat viral illnesses like the flu or a cold.

Bupleurum has been studied for:

  • Respiratory tract infections studied, not established Bupleurum has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Bupleurum for respiratory tract infections

    Although there has been interest in using oral bupleurum for various respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis and the common cold, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bupleurum for these conditions.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Ceftriaxone on your own; if you are taking Bupleurum for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ceftriaxone

This page covers Bupleurum only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ceftriaxone page lists 44 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Asarabacca (major), Calcium (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Aristolochia (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 39 moderate · 2 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ceftriaxone page

“Kidney strain is the risk to understand first on this page. Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) is an injectable antibiotic used for serious infections, and three of the 44 supplements on file carry major ratings, two of them because they can harm the kidneys on their own: Siberian cocklebur and asarabacca, which is often contaminated with kidney-d…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ceftriaxone 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. Even though Bupleurum itself has no known interaction with Ceftriaxone, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone 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 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ceftriaxone
Top half

#1,302 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Bupleurum reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
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.

Bupleurum chinense · Apiaceae · Root · Capsules, tablets, dried root, teas, tinctures, and traditional Chinese herbal formulas

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Bupleurum is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Bupleurum record says about it on its own.

Bupleurum: dosing

There is no well-established standard dose of Bupleurum. Do not exceed the recommended amount, and avoid long-term use without professional guidance.

From our Bupleurum monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Bupleurum monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ceftriaxone Injection

What Is Ceftriaxone Injection Used For?

Brand name: Rocephin

Ceftriaxone Injection is used to treat bacterial infections in many parts of the body, including the lungs (lower respiratory tract infections), urinary tract, skin, bones and joints, abdomen, and bloodstream (septicemia). It also treats bacterial meningitis (infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord), pelvic inflammatory disease, acute bacterial ear infections (otitis media), and gonorrhea.

In addition, a single dose of ceftriaxone may be given before certain surgeries — such as hysterectomy, gallbladder surgery, or coronary artery bypass surgery — to help prevent postoperative infection. It works only against bacterial infections; it will not treat viral illnesses like the flu or a cold.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Ceftriaxone

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (38,242 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fever 2,054 reports
Acute kidney injury 1,826 reports
Dyspnea 1,592 reports
Pneumonia 1,338 reports
Vomiting 1,265 reports
See full Ceftriaxone Injection 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
327Moderate
0Minor
2,502No known interaction
327 Moderate 2,502 No interaction
Moderate

327 interactions

Showing 60 of 327 moderate interactions — see all 327 on the Bupleurum page.

No interaction 2,502 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 2,502 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bupleurum list.

See the full Bupleurum interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ceftriaxone, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Bupleurum References

The 17 references that drive our Bupleurum monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Kobashi Y, Nakajima M, Niki Y, Matsushima T. [A case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia due to Sho-saiko-to]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1997;35:1372-7.
  2. Wada Y, Kubo M. [Acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated by type C hepatitis during treatment and further by acute interstitial pneumonia due to sho-saiko-to in 7-year-old]. Arerugi 1997;46:1148-55.
  3. Sato A, Toyoshima M, Kondo A, et al. [Pneumonitis induced by the herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to in Japan]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1997;35:391-5.
  4. Daibo A, Yoshida Y, Kitazawa S, et al. [A case of pneumonitis and hepatic injury caused by a herbal drug (sho-saiko-to)]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1992;30:1583-8.
  5. Sugiyama H, Nagai M, Kotajima F, et al. [A case of interstitial pneumonia with chronic hepatitis C following interferon-alfa and sho-saiko-to therapy]. Arerugi 1995;44:711-4.
  6. Ishizaki T, Sasaki F, Ameshima S, et al. Pneumonitis during interferon and/or herbal drug therapy in patients with chronic active hepatitis. Eur Respir J 1996;9:2691-6. PubMed
  7. Nakagawa A, Yamaguchi T, Takao T, Amano H. [Five cases of drug induced pneumonitis due to Sho-saiko-to or interferon-alpha or both]. Nippon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 1995;33:1361-6.
  8. Miyazaki E, Ando M, Ih K, et al. [Pulmonary edema associated with the Chinese medicine shosaikoto]. Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi 1998;36:776-80.
  9. Matsumoto T, Yamada H. Regulation of immune complexes binding of macrophages by pectic polysaccharide from Bupleurum falcatum L.: pharmacological evidence for the requirement of intracellular calcium/calmodulin on Fc receptor up-regulation by bupleuran 2
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. Kato M, Pu MY, Isobe K, et al. Characterization of the immunoregulatory action of saikosaponin-d. Cell Immunol 1994;159:15-25. PubMed
  13. Ushio Y, Oda Y, Abe H. Effect of saikosaponin on the immune responses in mice. Int J Immunopharmacol 1991;13:501-8. PubMed
  14. Hirayama, C., Okumura, M., Tanikawa, K., and et al. A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn 1989;24(6):715-719. PubMed
  15. Hiai S, Yokoyama H, Nagasawa T, and et al. Stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis by saikosaponin of Bupleuri radix. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Tokyo) 1981;29(2):495-499. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bupleurum with Ceftriaxone?
We do not list a known interaction between Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Bupleurum in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Ceftriaxone is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Bupleurum and Ceftriaxone combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Ceftriaxone is filed under 6 classifications, and Bupleurum has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Ceftriaxone's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Bupleurum interact with any other medications?
Yes. Bupleurum has 327 documented drug interactions in our database — Ceftriaxone is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Ceftriaxone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Ceftriaxone has documented interactions with 44 supplements in our database — Bupleurum is not one of them. The Ceftriaxone interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Bupleurum monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Ceftriaxone Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Ceftriaxone supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Ceftriaxone, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 17 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Ceftriaxone and Bupleurum?

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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.