Drug & supplement interaction

Cinchona + Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital

Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital brand name: Belap.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Cinchona has a moderate interaction with Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital. Theoretically, taking cinchona might increase the adverse effects of phenobarbital.

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

Cinchona and Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital

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

Moderate

PHENOBARBITAL (Luminal)

Theoretically, taking cinchona might increase the adverse effects of phenobarbital.
Clinical research shows that taking quinine, a constituent of cinchona, increases the peak plasma concentration and area under the curve of phenobarbital.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Belap combines belladonna with phenobarbital, a barbiturate that calms the nervous system. Cinchona bark contains quinine, and lab and pharmacology data suggest quinine can raise phenobarbital levels in your blood (both its peak amount and total exposure go up). In plain terms, the supplement may slow how your body clears the phenobarbital, so it can build up a bit more than expected.

If that happens, you might notice extra drowsiness, dizziness, grogginess, slowed breathing, or feeling unsteady. This is a theoretical concern based on how the two interact, not a heavily proven one, so it's a moderate caution rather than an emergency. Still, since cinchona itself can be risky, please run this combination by your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.

References
  1. Holt GA. Food & Possible Interactions with Drugs: Revised and Expanded Ed. Chicago, IL: Precept Press, 1998.
  2. Amabeoku GJ, Chikuni O, Akino C, Mutetwa S. Pharmacokinetic interaction of single doses of quinine and carbamazepine, phenobarbitone and phenytoin in healthy volunteers. East Afr Med J 1993;70:90-3.

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

Cinchona Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cinchona has 3 major, 472 moderate, 16 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital 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 Cinchona

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital

This page covers Cinchona only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital page lists 164 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 Henbane (major).

By severity: 10 major · 134 moderate · 20 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital page

“Belap pairs belladonna, a drying antispasmodic, with phenobarbital, a barbiturate that sedates the brain, and its supplement list calls for genuine care. Ten of the 164 documented interactions rate major, and most of the danger is sedation piled on sedation.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 12 real supplement products containing Cinchona, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cinchona. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital too, on top of Cinchona — 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 Cinchona and Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital 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 Cinchona
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital
Top 25%

#541 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 Cinchona

What is Cinchona?

Cinchona
  • Malaria (historical/traditional)
  • Fever
  • Leg cramps and restless legs
  • Digestive upset and loss of appetite
  • Bitter tonic

Cinchona bark is the natural source of quinine and has been used for centuries to treat malaria and fever, but the bark itself is not standardized and can be unpredictable and risky. Modern medicine uses purified, dose-controlled quinine instead, and the supplement form carries real dangers, including serious heart and blood problems. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy.

Read the full Cinchona monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cinchona

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

3Major
472Moderate
16Minor
2,338No known interaction
Major

3 interactions

Moderate

472 interactions

Showing 60 of 472 moderate interactions — see all 472 on the Cinchona page.

Minor

16 interactions

No interaction 2,338 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 Cinchona and Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cinchona with Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital?
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 Cinchona and Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital 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 Belladonna Extract, Phenobarbital and Cinchona?

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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.