Drug & supplement interaction

Coleus + Abrocitinib

Abrocitinib brand name: Cibinqo.

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

Abrocitinib falls into 2 drug categories that Coleus can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, taking coleus may affect drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 and increase the risk of adverse effects or reduce the effectiveness.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Coleus and Abrocitinib

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Coleus interacts with whole categories of medication. Abrocitinib falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Coleus in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Abrocitinib

Abrocitinib falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Coleus interacts with.

Theoretically, taking coleus may affect drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 and increase the risk of adverse effects or reduce the effectiveness.
Research on the effect of coleus on CYP2C9 is conflicting. Some animal research shows that coleus extract can induce CYP2C9, while in vitro research shows that coleus can inhibit CYP2C9. Until more is known, advise patients that taking coleus might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
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 situation with Coleus and your eczema medicine, abrocitinib (Cibinqo). Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP2C9 to help clear this drug from your body. Coleus, which contains forskolin, may interfere with that enzyme. The tricky part is that the evidence pulls in two directions: some lab studies suggest Coleus blocks CYP2C9 (which could let abrocitinib build up), while some animal studies suggest it speeds the enzyme up (which could lower drug levels).

If levels run high, you might see more side effects like nausea, headache, acne, or a greater chance of infection. If levels drop, your eczema could flare. To be honest, this is all theoretical and based only on lab and animal work, so it may not happen at all in people. Still, since this is a serious immune-affecting drug, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Yokotani K, Chiba T, Sato Y, et al. Hepatic cytochrome P450 mediates interaction between warfarin and Coleus forskohlii extract in vivo and in vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012;64(12):1793-801.
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 2

Abrocitinib also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Theoretically, concomitant use of coleus and anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
In vitro and animal research shows that forskolin, a constituent of coleus, can inhibit platelet aggregation and adhesion.
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 with Coleus and abrocitinib (Cibinqo). The concern on file isn't really about how your body processes the abrocitinib itself. Instead, it's about an added bleeding risk. In lab and animal studies, forskolin (the active part of Coleus) can make platelets less sticky, which means blood may clot a little slower.

Why does that matter for abrocitinib? This JAK inhibitor can lower your platelet count on its own, especially early in treatment. So stacking Coleus on top could, in theory, nudge you toward more bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding gums. I'll be honest though, this is only theoretical and based on weak evidence, so don't panic. Just mention any Coleus use to your pharmacist or doctor, and let them know if you notice easy bruising.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Christenson JT, Thulesius O, Nazzal MM. The effect of forskolin on blood flow, platelet metabolism, aggregation and ATP release. Vasa 1995;24:56-61.
  2. Agarwal KC, Zielinski BA, Maitra RS. Significance of plasma adenosine in the antiplatelet activity of forskolin: potentiation by dipyridamole and dilazep. Thromb Haemost 1989;61:106-10. DOI
  3. Agarwal KC, Parks RE. Forskolin: a potential antimetastatic agent. Int J Cancer 1983;32:801-4. 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

Coleus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Coleus has 29 major, 885 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Abrocitinib one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 29 Moderate 885 No known interaction 1,916 (incl. Abrocitinib)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Coleus

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Abrocitinib

This page covers Coleus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Abrocitinib page lists 290 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), Aconite (moderate) and Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 252 moderate · 35 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Abrocitinib page

“Bleeding is where I'd focus first with abrocitinib (Cibinqo), an eczema pill that can itself lower platelet counts. Of the 290 supplements and herbs with an interaction on file, 202 have blood-thinning or antiplatelet activity, and two of the three major-rated entries, danshen and piracetam, sit in that group.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Abrocitinib interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 803 real supplement products containing Coleus, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Coleus. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Abrocitinib too, on top of Coleus — 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 Coleus and Abrocitinib 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 Coleus
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Abrocitinib
Top half

#1,237 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 Coleus

What is Coleus?

Coleus
  • Weight management
  • Asthma and breathing
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart conditions
  • Glaucoma (eye pressure)
  • Exercise and body composition

Coleus is a plant from the mint family whose root contains a compound called forskolin, often marketed for weight loss, asthma, and heart health. While early lab and small human studies are interesting, solid proof that Coleus supplements help any of these conditions is limited. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have heart problems or low blood pressure.

Read the full Coleus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Abrocitinib

What Is Abrocitinib Used For?

Brand name: Cibinqo

Cibinqo (abrocitinib) is used to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. It is specifically for people whose eczema has not been adequately controlled with other systemic (whole-body) treatments, including biologics, or when those treatments are not a safe option.

Cibinqo is not recommended to be used at the same time as other JAK inhibitors, biologic immunomodulators, or other immunosuppressants (medicines that reduce immune system activity).

See full Abrocitinib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Coleus

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

29Major
885Moderate
0Minor
1,915No known interaction
29 Major 885 Moderate 1,915 No interaction
Major

29 interactions

Moderate

885 interactions

Showing 60 of 885 moderate interactions — see all 885 on the Coleus page.

No interaction 1,915 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,915 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Coleus list.

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

Can you take Coleus with Abrocitinib?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Coleus and Abrocitinib?
Abrocitinib belongs to more than one drug category, and Coleus interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Coleus and Abrocitinib 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 Abrocitinib and Coleus?

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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.