Drug & supplement interaction

Cissus Quadrangularis + Raltegravir

Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir 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

Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir

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 Raltegravir and Cissus Quadrangularis 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.

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.

Cissus Quadrangularis safety at a glance

Cissus Quadrangula... overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in short-term use, but long-term safety is not well studied.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety data, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety data, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Raltegravir and Cissus Quadrangularis? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Raltegravir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications — including integrase inhibitors, glucuronidated drugs, oral drugs. Cissus Quadrangularis has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being antidiabetes drugs (moderate) — and none of Raltegravir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Cissus Quadrangularis Does Interact With Other Medications

Cissus Quadrangularis has 86 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 86 No known interaction 2,744 (incl. Raltegravir)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cissus Quadrangularis

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir 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.

  • Bloating or gas / Diarrhea Additional detail

    Cissus Quadrangularis

    “Orally, Cissus quadrangularis has been reported to cause flatulence, diarrhea, gastritis, and dry mouth. However, the rates of these adverse effects are similar to or lower than that observed with placebo.”

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

    4 sources cited
    1. 15608. Oben J, Kuate D, Agbor G, et al. The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome. Lipids Health Dis 2006, 5:24.
    2. 16457. Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, et al. The use of Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Lipids Health Dis 2008;7:12.
    3. 112140. Benjawan S, Nimitphong H, Tragulpiankit P, Musigavong O, Prathanturarug S, Pathomwichaiwat T. The effect of Cissus quadrangularis L. on delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2022;1 PubMed
    4. 43204. Panpimanmas, S., Sithipongsri, S., Sukdanon, C., and Manmee, C. Experimental comparative study of the efficacy and side effects of Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae) to Daflon (Servier) and placebo in the treatment of acute hemorrhoids. J Med Assoc.Thai

    Raltegravir

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

  • Trouble sleeping / Headache Additional detail

    Cissus Quadrangularis

    “Orally, Cissus quadrangularis has been reported to cause headache and insomnia. However, the rates of these adverse effects are similar to or lower than that observed with placebo.”

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

    2 sources cited
    1. 15608. Oben J, Kuate D, Agbor G, et al. The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome. Lipids Health Dis 2006, 5:24.
    2. 16457. Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, et al. The use of Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Lipids Health Dis 2008;7:12.

    Raltegravir

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

Reported for Cissus Quadrangularis but not commonly for Raltegravir: stomach upset and dry mouth.

Effects for Raltegravir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Cissus Quadrangularis come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 16,361 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Raltegravir 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.

Overlapping uses

What Raltegravir Is Prescribed For, and What Cissus Quadrangularis Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Raltegravir is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Cissus Quadrangularis is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Raltegravir is prescribed for: Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own. Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Cissus Quadrangularis has been studied for:

  • Cancer studied, not established Cissus Quadrangularis has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Cissus Quadrangularis for cancer

    Although there has been interest in using oral Cissus quadrangularis for cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of Cissus quadrangularis for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Raltegravir on your own; if you are taking Cissus Quadrangularis for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Cissus Quadrangularis or Raltegravir

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

This page covers Cissus Quadrangularis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page

“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Raltegravir interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 371 real supplement products containing Cissus Quadrangularis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cissus Quadrangularis. Even though Cissus Quadrangularis itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir 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 Cissus Quadrangularis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Raltegravir
Top half

#1,342 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 Cissus Quadrangularis reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir 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 Cissus Quadrangularis

What is Cissus Quadrangularis?

Cissus Quadrangularis
  • Bone fracture healing
  • Joint pain and bone health
  • Weight management
  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive complaints

Cissus quadrangularis is a traditional vine used mainly for bone health, joint pain, and weight management. Most of the supporting evidence comes from animal studies and a small number of human trials, so its benefits are not firmly proven. It appears reasonably well tolerated in the short term, but people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing chronic conditions should talk to a doctor or pharmacist first.

Cissus quadrangularis · Vitaceae · Stems, leaves, and roots · Capsules, tablets, powder, extracts, and topical preparations

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

Cissus Quadrangularis: dosing

There is no official, standardized dose for Cissus quadrangularis. Products differ widely in their strength and how they are prepared, which makes a single recommended dose hard to give.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the suggested amount. A pharmacist or doctor can help you decide whether a product and dose make sense for you, especially if you take other medicines or have health conditions.

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

Read the full Cissus Quadrangularis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Raltegravir

What Is Raltegravir Used For?

Brand name: Isentress

Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.

Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Foetal exposure during pregnancy 1,078 reports
Depression 1,017 reports
Anxiety 966 reports
Emotional distress 789 reports
Anhedonia 708 reports
See full Raltegravir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cissus Quadrangularis

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

0Major
86Moderate
0Minor
2,743No known interaction
86 Moderate 2,743 No interaction
Moderate

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 moderate interactions — see all 86 on the Cissus Quadrangularis page.

No interaction 2,743 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,743 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Cissus Quadrangularis list.

See the full Cissus Quadrangularis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Raltegravir, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Cissus Quadrangularis References

The 5 references that drive our Cissus Quadrangularis 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. Oben J, Kuate D, Agbor G, et al. The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome. Lipids Health Dis 2006, 5:24.
  2. Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, et al. The use of Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Lipids Health Dis 2008;7:12.
  3. Panpimanmas, S., Sithipongsri, S., Sukdanon, C., and Manmee, C. Experimental comparative study of the efficacy and side effects of Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae) to Daflon (Servier) and placebo in the treatment of acute hemorrhoids. J Med Assoc.Thai
  4. Nash R, Azantsa B, Kuate D, Singh H, Oben J. The use of a stem and leaf aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) to reduce body fat and other components of metabolic syndrome in overweight participants. J Altern Complement Med. 2019;25(1):98-106
  5. Benjawan S, Nimitphong H, Tragulpiankit P, Musigavong O, Prathanturarug S, Pathomwichaiwat T. The effect of Cissus quadrangularis L. on delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2022;1 PubMed

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 Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Cissus Quadrangularis with Raltegravir?
We do not list a known interaction between Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir. 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 Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 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.
Are Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Cissus Quadrangularis in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Raltegravir is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Cissus Quadrangularis and Raltegravir combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications, and Cissus Quadrangularis has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Raltegravir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Cissus Quadrangularis interact with any other medications?
Yes. Cissus Quadrangularis has 86 documented drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Raltegravir has documented interactions with 33 supplements in our database — Cissus Quadrangularis is not one of them. The Raltegravir 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

Cissus Quadrangularis monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Raltegravir drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Raltegravir supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Raltegravir, 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 5 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Raltegravir and Cissus Quadrangularis?

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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.