Drug & supplement interaction

Butcher's Broom + Droxidopa

Droxidopa brand name: Northera.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa

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 Droxidopa and Butcher's Broom 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.

Butcher's Broom safety at a glance

Butcher's Broom overall Use caution Generally well tolerated short-term in most healthy adults, but evidence on long-term safety is limited.

Pregnancy Avoid Safety has not been established, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information exists, so avoid use while breastfeeding.

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

Still wondering about combining Droxidopa and Butcher's Broom? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Droxidopa

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Droxidopa is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Butcher's Broom has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being alpha-adrenergic agonists (moderate) and alpha-adrenergic antagonists (moderate) — and none of Droxidopa’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

Butcher's Broom Does Interact With Other Medications

Butcher's Broom has 158 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Droxidopa isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 158 No known interaction 2,672 (incl. Droxidopa)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Butcher's Broom

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Butcher's Broom. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

Diarrhea / Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail
Butcher's Broom
“Orally, butcher's broom may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia, heartburn, and gastritis. A 39-year-old female with poorly-controlled diabetes reported severe vomiting and diarrhea after taking butcher's broom for 5 days and was ultimately hospitalized with dehydration, hyperkalemia, acidosis, and sinus tachycardia.”

Butcher's Broom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diabetes.
4 sources cited

10068. Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.. PubMed

37494. Cluzan, R. V., Alliot, F., Ghabboun, S., and Pascot, M. Treatment of secondary lymphedema of the upper limb with CYCLO 3 FORT. Lymphology 1996;29(1):29-35.

37498. Parrado F, Buzzi A. A study of the efficacy and tolerability of a preparation containing Ruscus aculeatus in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Clin Drug Invest 1999;18(4):255-61. DOI

94778. Sadarmin PP, Timperley J. An unusual case of Butcher's Broom precipitating diabetic ketoacidosis. J Emerg Med 2013;45(3):e63-e65. PubMed
Droxidopa

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Droxidopa. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Butcher's Broom but not commonly for Droxidopa: a fast or pounding heartbeat, high potassium, dehydration and a skin rash.

Effects for Droxidopa come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Butcher's Broom come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Droxidopa Is Prescribed For, and What Butcher's Broom Has Been Studied For

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

Droxidopa is prescribed for: Droxidopa capsules — available as the brand Northera and as generic Droxidopa — are used to treat orthostatic dizziness, lightheadedness, and the feeling of nearly blacking out in adults with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) — a condition where blood pressure drops significantly when you stand up, due to a problem with the nervous system. Both Northera and droxidopa capsules are approved for nOH caused by: Parkinson's disease Multiple system atrophy Pure autonomic failure Dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency Non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks has not been firmly established, so your doctor should check periodically whether it is still working for you.

Butcher's Broom has been studied for:

Orthostatic hypotension studied, not established Butcher's Broom has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Butcher's Broom for orthostatic hypotension

Although there has been interest in using oral butcher's broom for orthostatic hypotension, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of butcher's broom for this purpose.

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 Droxidopa on your own; if you are taking Butcher's Broom 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 Droxidopa

This page covers Butcher's Broom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Droxidopa page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Droxidopa page

“Droxidopa (Northera) raises blood pressure in people whose pressure drops dangerously when they stand, which means a supplement that keeps the pill from being absorbed can bring back the dizziness and fainting the drug exists to prevent. That risk runs through all 17 ingredients on this list, and it deserves genuine care rather than a…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Droxidopa interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Butcher's Broom as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 439 real supplement products containing Butcher's Broom, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Butcher's Broom. Even though Butcher's Broom itself has no known interaction with Droxidopa, 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 Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa 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 Butcher's Broom

Top half

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

29 days ago today

Medication Droxidopa

Top 5%

#131 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 Butcher's Broom reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa 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 Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Butcher's Broom

What is Butcher's Broom?

Chronic venous insufficiency
Varicose veins
Leg swelling and heaviness
Hemorrhoids
Circulation problems

Butcher's broom is a plant extract most often used for circulation problems in the legs, such as chronic venous insufficiency, where some evidence suggests it may help reduce swelling and discomfort. Quality and dosing vary widely between products, and it should not replace proven treatments. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a health condition.

Ruscus aculeatus · Asparagaceae · Rhizome (underground stem) and roots · Capsules, tablets, extracts, teas, and topical creams or ointments

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

Butcher's Broom: dosing

There is no single official or standardized dose of butcher's broom. Products vary widely in their strength, how they are made, and whether they include other ingredients, which makes it hard to compare them.Many extracts are standardized to a certain amount of ruscogenins, but the right amount depends on the specific product.

From our Butcher's Broom monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Butcher's Broom monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Droxidopa

What Is Droxidopa Used For?

Brand name: Northera

Droxidopa capsules — available as the brand Northera and as generic Droxidopa — are used to treat orthostatic dizziness, lightheadedness, and the feeling of nearly blacking out in adults with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) — a condition where blood pressure drops significantly when you stand up, due to a problem with the nervous system.

Both Northera and droxidopa capsules are approved for nOH caused by:

Parkinson's disease
Multiple system atrophy
Pure autonomic failure
Dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency
Non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy

Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks has not been firmly established, so your doctor should check periodically whether it is still working for you.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Droxidopa

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Dizziness 2,911 reports

Blood pressure increased 1,885 reports

Headache 1,587 reports

Fall 1,510 reports

Hypotension 1,260 reports

See full Droxidopa drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Butcher's Broom

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

0Major

158Moderate

0Minor

2,671No known interaction

158 Moderate 2,671 No interaction

Moderate

158 interactions

Showing 60 of 158 moderate interactions — see all 158 on the Butcher's Broom page.

No interaction 2,671 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,671 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Butcher's Broom list.

See the full Butcher's Broom interactions page

See every supplement checked against Droxidopa, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Butcher's Broom References

The 8 references that drive our Butcher's Broom 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.

Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.. PubMed
Redman DA. Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) as a potential treatment for orthostatic hypotension, with a case report. J Altern Complement Med 2000;6:539-49..
Landa, N., Aguirre, A., Goday, J., Raton, J. A., and Diaz-Perez, J. L. Allergic contact dermatitis from a vasoconstrictor cream. Contact Dermatitis 1990;22(5):290-291. PubMed
Cluzan, R. V., Alliot, F., Ghabboun, S., and Pascot, M. Treatment of secondary lymphedema of the upper limb with CYCLO 3 FORT. Lymphology 1996;29(1):29-35.
Parrado F, Buzzi A. A study of the efficacy and tolerability of a preparation containing Ruscus aculeatus in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Clin Drug Invest 1999;18(4):255-61. DOI
Sadarmin PP, Timperley J. An unusual case of Butcher's Broom precipitating diabetic ketoacidosis. J Emerg Med 2013;45(3):e63-e65. PubMed
Ramirez-Hernandez M, Garcia-Selles J, Merida-Fernandez C, Martinez-Escribano JA. Allergic contact dermatitis to ruscogenins. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(1):60. PubMed
European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Ruscus Aculeatus L rhizome. EMEA/HMPC/261939/2007. London, September 4, 2008. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_HMPC_assessment_report/2009/12/WC500018288.pdf. Acces

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 Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Butcher's Broom with Droxidopa?

We do not list a known interaction between Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa. 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.

Do Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Are Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa 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 Butcher's Broom in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Droxidopa is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Butcher's Broom and Droxidopa combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Droxidopa is filed under 1 classification, and Butcher's Broom has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Droxidopa'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 Butcher's Broom interact with any other medications?

Yes. Butcher's Broom has 158 documented drug interactions in our database — Droxidopa 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 Droxidopa interact with any supplements?

Yes. Droxidopa has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Butcher's Broom is not one of them. The Droxidopa 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

Butcher's Broom monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Droxidopa drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Droxidopa supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Droxidopa, 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 8 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Droxidopa and Butcher's Broom?

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.