Drug & supplement interaction

Coleus + Montelukast Sodium

Montelukast Sodium brand name: Singulair.

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

Coleus has a moderate interaction with Montelukast Sodium. 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
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Coleus and Montelukast Sodium

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Montelukast Sodium

Montelukast Sodium 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 short version on pairing Coleus with your Singulair (montelukast). Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP2C9 to help break montelukast down. Coleus may nudge that enzyme, but the catch is that the lab and animal studies disagree: some suggest Coleus speeds the enzyme up, others suggest it slows it down. So we honestly can't predict which way things would go.

If Coleus slowed clearance, montelukast could build up and you might notice more side effects like headache, stomach upset, or unusual mood changes. If it sped clearance up, your montelukast might work less well, meaning more wheezing or allergy symptoms. This is theoretical, based only on lab work, so I wouldn't panic. Just loop in your pharmacist or doctor before adding Coleus.

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.

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 Montelukast Sodium one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 29 Moderate 885 No known interaction 1,916 (incl. Montelukast Sodium)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Coleus or Montelukast Sodium

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

This page covers Coleus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Montelukast Sodium page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adrafinil (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate), Bacopa (moderate) and Berberine (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 56 moderate · 24 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Montelukast Sodium page

“If you rely on montelukast (Singulair) for asthma or allergies, this list deserves genuine attention. The one major-rated concern is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in your gut before it absorbs, leaving you with a weaker dose just when your airways need a steady one.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Montelukast Sodium 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 Montelukast Sodium 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 Montelukast Sodium 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Montelukast Sodium
Top 5%

#128 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 Montelukast

What Is Montelukast Used For?

Brand name: Singulair

Montelukast is used for the long-term prevention and treatment of asthma in children and adults, and for preventing breathing problems triggered by exercise (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction). It is also used to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and perennial allergic rhinitis (year-round nasal allergies). The age ranges covered depend on the specific product form — tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules are each approved for different age groups.

For allergic rhinitis, montelukast should be reserved for people who haven't responded well to other treatments, because its potential mental health risks may outweigh the benefits when nasal allergy symptoms are mild and other options work. It is not a rescue treatment for sudden asthma attacks — always keep a fast-acting inhaler on hand.

See full Montelukast 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 Montelukast Sodium, 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 Montelukast Sodium supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Montelukast Sodium, ranked by severity Montelukast 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 Montelukast Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Coleus with Montelukast Sodium?
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 Coleus and Montelukast Sodium 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 Montelukast Sodium 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.