Drug & supplement interaction

Camphor + Labetalol

Labetalol brand names: Normodyne, Trandate.

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

Camphor has a moderate interaction with Labetalol. Theoretically, concomitant use of camphor with other hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver damage.

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

Camphor and Labetalol

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

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Labetalol

Labetalol falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Camphor interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of camphor with other hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver damage.
There have been a few case reports of transient elevations in liver enzymes in adults after oral or topical use of camphor. There has also been one case of hepatotoxicity in an infant after topical camphor use.
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 connection worth knowing: labetalol can occasionally be tough on the liver, and camphor has been linked, in a handful of reports, to short-lived bumps in liver enzymes (after both swallowing it and using it on the skin). The thought is that combining two things that may stress the liver could, in theory, add up. This isn't about camphor changing your blood pressure control or making side effects like dizziness or a slow heart rate worse. It's strictly a liver concern.

I want to be honest that this is theoretical, based on how these substances behave rather than strong proof. A dab of a camphor rub on sore muscles is very unlikely to cause trouble. Never swallow camphor. If you use it often or notice yellowing skin, dark urine, or belly pain, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Uc A, Bishop WP, Sanders KD. Camphor hepatotoxicity. South Med J 2000;93:596-8. DOI
  2. Rampini, S. K., Schneemann, M., Rentsch, K., and Bachli, E. B. Camphor intoxication after cao gio (coin rubbing). JAMA 7-3-2002;288(1):45.
  3. Cordoba Torres IT, Marino-Nieto J, Barkin HB, Fort AC, Cobas M. Vicks VapoRub intoxication: an unusual presentation of multiorgan failure. J Clin Anesth 2018;48:46-7. 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

Camphor Also Interacts With Other Medications

Camphor has 369 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Labetalol one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 369 No known interaction 2,461 (incl. Labetalol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Camphor

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Camphor or Labetalol

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

This page covers Camphor only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Labetalol page lists 176 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Beer (major) and Indian Snakeroot (major).

By severity: 8 major · 148 moderate · 20 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Labetalol page

“Labetalol blocks both alpha and beta receptors to lower blood pressure, and it is often the first choice in pregnancy, so the 176 supplement and herbal interactions on file call for genuine care, starting with the eight rated major. Most of the list pushes on blood pressure itself: over a hundred ingredients either add to labetalol's e…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Labetalol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 51 real supplement products containing Camphor, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Camphor. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Labetalol too, on top of Camphor — 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 Camphor and Labetalol 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 Camphor
Steady interest

#1,087 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Labetalol
Steady interest

#1,864 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 Camphor

What is Camphor?

  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Cough and chest congestion
  • Itching and skin irritation
  • Cold sores or minor wounds
  • Counterirritant for pain

Camphor is a strong-smelling compound from the camphor tree (or made synthetically) that is used in many topical rub-on products for muscle aches, itching, and chest congestion. It can be helpful for these uses when applied to the skin in small, regulated amounts, but it is toxic and potentially deadly if swallowed, so it should never be taken by mouth. Keep camphor products away from children and check with a pharmacist before use.

Read the full Camphor monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Labetalol

What Is Labetalol Used For?

Brand names: Normodyne, Trandate

Labetalol tablets (Labetalol HCL, Labetalol Hydrochloride oral) are used to manage high blood pressure (hypertension). They can be used alone or alongside other blood pressure medicines, such as diuretics. By lowering blood pressure, labetalol helps reduce the risk of serious events like stroke and heart attack.

Labetalol injection products (LABETALOL HCl, Labetalol HCl in Dextrose, Labetalol HCl in Sodium Chloride, Labetalol Hydrochloride intravenous) are used specifically for severe hypertension and are given intravenously in a hospital setting.

See full Labetalol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Camphor

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

0Major
369Moderate
0Minor
2,460No known interaction
369 Moderate 2,460 No interaction
Moderate

369 interactions

Showing 60 of 369 moderate interactions — see all 369 on the Camphor page.

No interaction 2,460 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,460 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Camphor list.

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

Can you take Camphor with Labetalol?
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 Camphor and Labetalol 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 Labetalol and Camphor?

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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.