Drug & supplement interaction

Buttercup + Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine brand names: Gilchew, AH Chew D, Gilchew IR, Sudafed PE, Biorphen.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Buttercup and Phenylephrine 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

Buttercup and Phenylephrine

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 Phenylephrine and Buttercup 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Buttercup at all — not against Phenylephrine, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Buttercup safety at a glance

Buttercup overall Avoid Fresh buttercup is toxic and irritating; it is not considered safe for internal use.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When the fresh plant is used orally or topically. Buttercup might also stimulate uterine contractions. There is insufficient reliable information available abou... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When the fresh plant is used orally or topically. Buttercup might also stimulate uterine contractions. There is insufficient reliable information available abou... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Phenylephrine and Buttercup? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Buttercup and Phenylephrine 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.

  • Headache reported in 7.8% of FDA reports for Phenylephrine Additional detail

    Buttercup

    “Orally, ingestion of fresh buttercup has caused tachycardia, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, dizziness, hot flushes, sweating, pale skin, sensation of paralyzed legs, and brief loss of consciousness. Diarrhea and irritation of the urinary tract may also occur.

    Topically, skin contact with fresh buttercup may cause blisters, burns, and phototoxic skin reactions (18,19,102773).”

    Buttercup · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in burns.

    3 sources cited
    1. 102773. de Maere d'Aertrycke O, Le Polain de Waroux JB, Hantson P, de Bergeyck R. Recurrent supraventricular tachyarrhythmia following Ranunculus acris ("Meadow Buttercup") ingestion. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020;58(7):780-781.
    2. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

    “Orally, there is a case report of headache, dizziness, hot flushes, sweating, pale skin, sensation of paralyzed legs, and brief loss of consciousness following intake of an entire, fresh buttercup plant by a 59-year-old man.”

    Buttercup · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 102773. de Maere d'Aertrycke O, Le Polain de Waroux JB, Hantson P, de Bergeyck R. Recurrent supraventricular tachyarrhythmia following Ranunculus acris ("Meadow Buttercup") ingestion. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020;58(7):780-781.

    Phenylephrine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Phenylephrine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Vomiting Additional detail

    Buttercup

    “Orally, there is a case report of epigastric and thoracic pain and vomiting following intake of an entire, fresh buttercup plant by a 59-year-old man. Ingestion of buttercup may also cause diarrhea (18,19).”

    Buttercup · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    3 sources cited
    1. 102773. de Maere d'Aertrycke O, Le Polain de Waroux JB, Hantson P, de Bergeyck R. Recurrent supraventricular tachyarrhythmia following Ranunculus acris ("Meadow Buttercup") ingestion. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020;58(7):780-781.
    2. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

    Phenylephrine

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

Reported for Buttercup but not commonly for Phenylephrine: fainting, stomach pain, a fast or pounding heartbeat and flushing.

Effects for Phenylephrine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Buttercup come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 221,388 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Phenylephrine that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Buttercup in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When the fresh plant is used orally or topically. Buttercup might also stimulate uterine contractions. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of the dried above ground parts of buttercup used during pregnancy and lactation.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Buttercup or Phenylephrine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Buttercup or Phenylephrine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Phenylephrine

This page covers Buttercup only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenylephrine page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 6 major · 60 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenylephrine page

“If you take phenylephrine (Sudafed PE, Biorphen) for congestion, treat this list as one that needs real attention, since six of its 81 entries carry a major rating. Phenylephrine tightens blood vessels to clear your nose, and more than half of the interactions here come from stimulant ingredients, ephedra above all, that can push blood…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenylephrine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Buttercup and Phenylephrine 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 Buttercup
Steady interest

#1,308 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Phenylephrine
Top 25%

#668 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 Buttercup reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified October 4, 2026. The Buttercup and Phenylephrine 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 Buttercup

What is Buttercup?

  • Joint and muscle pain (traditional topical use)
  • Skin conditions and blisters
  • Nerve pain (traditional folk use)
  • Rheumatic complaints

Buttercup refers to plants in the Ranunculus family, which contain an irritating compound that makes the fresh plant toxic to eat and harsh on skin. There is no good scientific evidence that it safely treats any health condition, and it can cause serious irritation and poisoning. We do not recommend using fresh buttercup as a supplement.

Ranunculus spp. · Ranunculaceae · Whole plant, leaves, and flowers (fresh or dried) · Topical preparations, homeopathic remedies, traditional poultices, and dried herb

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

Buttercup: dosing

There is no established safe dose of buttercup for internal use, and we do not recommend taking it by mouth. The plant is toxic in its fresh form, and standardized supplement products are not available from reputable sources.Any homeopathic preparations are extremely diluted and are a different category of product.

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

Read the full Buttercup monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Phenylephrine

What Is Phenylephrine Used For?

Brand names: Gilchew, AH Chew D, Gilchew IR, Sudafed PE, Biorphen

Phenylephrine is used in several different products, and each one has its own use.

Injection (IV): raises blood pressure in adults with clinically important hypotension (low blood pressure) caused mainly by widened blood vessels. Some injections are labeled for anesthesia only. Others are labeled for anesthesia and septic shock.

Eye drops: Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution is used to dilate the pupil.

Nasal products: temporarily relieve nasal and sinus congestion from the common cold, hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies.

Rectal suppositories: relieve itching, burning and discomfort from hemorrhoids and temporarily shrink hemorrhoidal tissue.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Phenylephrine

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (221,388 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 20,609 reports
Headache 17,301 reports
Nausea 16,925 reports
Diarrhea 14,221 reports
Dyspnea 13,719 reports
See full Phenylephrine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Buttercup

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Buttercup list.

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

Buttercup References

The 3 references that drive our Buttercup 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. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. de Maere d'Aertrycke O, Le Polain de Waroux JB, Hantson P, de Bergeyck R. Recurrent supraventricular tachyarrhythmia following Ranunculus acris ("Meadow Buttercup") ingestion. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020;58(7):780-781.

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 Buttercup and Phenylephrine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Buttercup with Phenylephrine?
We do not list a known interaction between Buttercup and Phenylephrine. 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 Buttercup and Phenylephrine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 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.
Does Phenylephrine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Phenylephrine has documented interactions with 81 supplements in our database — Buttercup is not one of them. The Phenylephrine 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

Buttercup monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Phenylephrine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Phenylephrine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Phenylephrine, 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 3 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Phenylephrine and Buttercup?

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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.