Drug & supplement interaction

Cajeput Oil + Chlorpromazine

Chlorpromazine brand names: Thorazine, Thorazine Spansules.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Cajeput Oil has a moderate interaction with Chlorpromazine. Evidence from in vitro research suggests that cajeput leaf extract can inhibit cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) by approximately 30%.

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

Cajeput Oil and Chlorpromazine

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Chlorpromazine

Chlorpromazine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group Cajeput Oil interacts with.

Evidence from in vitro research suggests that cajeput leaf extract can inhibit cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) by approximately 30%. Theoretically, cajeput oil may increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6. Some drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel), and others.
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 chlorpromazine (Thorazine): your body relies partly on an enzyme called CYP2D6 to break this medication down. Lab studies hint that cajeput oil can slow that enzyme by around 30 percent. If that enzyme works slower, chlorpromazine could clear out of your body a bit more sluggishly and build up. Since chlorpromazine is active as-is (not a prodrug that needs switching on), more of it sticking around could mean stronger effects like heavy drowsiness, dizziness, low blood pressure when you stand up, dry mouth, or a faster heartbeat.

That said, this is only based on test-tube research, not real people, so it's a theoretical concern, not a proven one. Swallowing essential oils is unsafe anyway. Before using cajeput oil in any form, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Subehan, Usia, T., Iwata, H., Kadota, S., and Tezuka, Y. Mechanism-based inhibition of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 by Indonesian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 5-24-2006;105(3):449-455. 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

Cajeput Oil Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cajeput Oil has 277 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Chlorpromazine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cajeput Oil

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Cajeput Oil or Chlorpromazine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Cajeput Oil or Chlorpromazine, 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 Chlorpromazine

This page covers Cajeput Oil only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Chlorpromazine page lists 211 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major) and Beer (major).

By severity: 17 major · 159 moderate · 35 minor.

Open the Chlorpromazine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Cajeput Oil and Chlorpromazine 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 Cajeput Oil
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Chlorpromazine
Steady interest

#1,976 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 Cajeput Oil

What is Cajeput Oil?

Cajeput Oil
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Cough and congestion
  • Minor skin irritation
  • Insect repellent
  • Aromatherapy

Cajeput oil is an aromatic essential oil traditionally used for aches, congestion, and minor skin complaints, but solid human evidence for these uses is limited. Like other essential oils, it should never be swallowed and should be diluted before applying to skin; consult a pharmacist or doctor before use, especially in children, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Read the full Cajeput Oil monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Chlorpromazine

What Is Chlorpromazine Used For?

Brand names: Thorazine, Thorazine Spansules

Chlorpromazine is used to manage psychotic disorders and treat schizophrenia. It also controls nausea and vomiting, relieves restlessness and apprehension before surgery, and controls the manic phase of manic-depressive illness. Other uses include relief of intractable hiccups, treatment of acute intermittent porphyria, and use as an adjunct in tetanus treatment.

In children ages 1 to 12, it is used for severe behavioral problems marked by explosive or combative behavior, and for short-term treatment of hyperactive children with conduct disorders. The oral forms are also approved for the management of manifestations of psychotic disorders broadly, in addition to the uses shared with the injection form.

See full Chlorpromazine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cajeput Oil

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

0Major
277Moderate
0Minor
2,552No known interaction
Moderate

277 interactions

Showing 60 of 277 moderate interactions — see all 277 on the Cajeput Oil page.

No interaction 2,552 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Cajeput Oil and Chlorpromazine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cajeput Oil with Chlorpromazine?
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 Cajeput Oil and Chlorpromazine 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 Chlorpromazine and Cajeput Oil?

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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.