Drug & supplement interaction

California Poppy + Oxazepam

Oxazepam brand name: Serax.

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

California Poppy has a moderate interaction with Oxazepam. Theoretically, taking California poppy with drugs with sedative effects may increase the risk of sedative effects.

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

California Poppy and Oxazepam

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Oxazepam

Oxazepam falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group California Poppy interacts with.

Theoretically, taking California poppy with drugs with sedative effects may increase the risk of sedative effects.
Laboratory research shows that California poppy has sedative effects.
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 simple version: Oxazepam (Serax) is a benzodiazepine that calms your brain down to ease anxiety. California poppy seems to have its own mild calming effect. So the concern is that stacking these two together could add up and leave you more sedated than you bargained for, meaning extra drowsiness, dizziness, grogginess, slowed reactions, or feeling unsteady on your feet.

I want to be honest about the evidence, though. This is a theoretical concern based on lab and animal studies, not solid human data, so we don't really know how much it matters in real life. Still, since both can make you sleepy, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them. Please don't change anything on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Paul LD, Springer D, Staack RF, et al. Cytochrome P450 isoenzymes involved in rat liver microsomal metabolism of californine and protopine. Eur J Pharmacol 2004;485:69-79. PubMed
  2. Paul LD, Maurer HH. Studies on the metabolism and toxicological detection of the Eschscholtzia californica alkaloids californine and protopine in urine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2003;789:43-5

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

California Poppy Also Interacts With Other Medications

California Poppy has 247 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Oxazepam one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 247 No known interaction 2,583 (incl. Oxazepam)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against California Poppy

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Oxazepam

This page covers California Poppy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Oxazepam page lists 119 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), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 8 major · 94 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Oxazepam page

“The single biggest hazard with oxazepam (Serax), a benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal, is stacked sedation, and this is a list to treat with genuine respect. Nearly two thirds of the supplements and foods on this page add their own drowsiness on top of the drug's, and the worst of them can depress breathing it…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Oxazepam interaction page

One more smart check

Taking California Poppy as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 345 real supplement products containing California Poppy, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides California Poppy. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Oxazepam too, on top of California Poppy — 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 California Poppy and Oxazepam 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 California Poppy
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Oxazepam
Steady interest

#1,492 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 California Poppy

What is California Poppy?

California Poppy
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Mild aches and pains
  • Restlessness or nervous tension
  • Bedwetting in children (traditional use)

California poppy is a traditional herbal remedy used mainly for anxiety and sleep problems, often combined with other calming herbs. Human research is very limited, so its true benefits are not well proven. It is generally considered mild, but should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding and used with caution by anyone taking sedating medicines.

Read the full California Poppy monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Oxazepam

What Is Oxazepam Used For?

Brand name: Serax

Oxazepam capsules are used to manage anxiety disorders or to give short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. They also help with anxiety that comes along with depression.

The medicine has been found especially useful for anxiety, tension, agitation and irritability in older adults. It can also help people going through alcohol withdrawal who have acute tremulousness (shakiness), inebriation, or anxiety. Everyday stress usually does not need this kind of treatment.

See full Oxazepam drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & California Poppy

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

0Major
247Moderate
0Minor
2,582No known interaction
247 Moderate 2,582 No interaction
Moderate

247 interactions

Showing 60 of 247 moderate interactions — see all 247 on the California Poppy page.

No interaction 2,582 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,582 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full California Poppy list.

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

Can you take California Poppy with Oxazepam?
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 California Poppy and Oxazepam 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 Oxazepam and California Poppy?

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.