Drug & supplement interaction

Coriander + Sodium valproate

Sodium valproate brand name: Epilim.

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

Sodium valproate falls into 2 drug categories that Coriander can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, coriander might cause additive sedative effects when taken with CNS depressants.

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

Coriander and Sodium valproate

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Sodium valproate

Sodium valproate falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Coriander interacts with.

Theoretically, coriander might cause additive sedative effects when taken with CNS depressants.
Evidence from animal research suggests that coriander fruit extract has sedative effects.
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: sodium valproate (Epilim) already slows down the brain a bit, which is part of how it controls seizures and mood. Common effects include drowsiness, tiredness, and feeling unsteady. The concern with coriander is that, in animal studies, a concentrated coriander fruit extract seemed to have a calming, sedative effect. Stack that on top of valproate and, in theory, you might feel a little extra sleepy or foggy.

I want to be honest about the evidence though: this is based on lab and animal work, not solid human studies, so it's more of a maybe than a sure thing. Cilantro sprinkled on your food is not the worry here, it's concentrated extracts or essential oils. If you're thinking about those, check with your pharmacist or doctor first, and never adjust your valproate on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Emamghoreishi, M., Khasaki, M., and Aazam, M. F. Coriandrum sativum: evaluation of its anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus-maze. J Ethnopharmacol. 1-15-2005;96(3):365-370. PubMed
Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

2 of 2

Sodium valproate also falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS.

Theoretically, coriander might increase the risk of photosensitivity when taken with photosensitizing drugs.
Evidence from in vitro research suggests that coriandrin, a constituent of coriander, has photosensitizing effects.
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 thing to know about pairing coriander with your sodium valproate (Epilim): this isn't about how the drug is broken down in your body. Valproate can make some people's skin a little more sensitive to sunlight, and coriander contains a compound called coriandrin that may do the same. So the worry is simply that the two together might add up and make you burn more easily in the sun.

I'll be honest, this is a very weak, theoretical concern. It comes from lab studies, not from real people, and everyday cooking amounts of cilantro are unlikely to cause any trouble. If you're using concentrated coriander oil or extracts, just be a bit more careful with sunscreen and shade, and check with your pharmacist if you have questions.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Ashwood-Smith, M. J., Warrington, P. J., Jenkins, M., Ceska, O., and Romaniuk, P. J. Photobiological properties of a novel, naturally occurring furoisocoumarin, coriandrin. Photochem.Photobiol. 1989;50(6):745-751. 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

Coriander Also Interacts With Other Medications

Coriander has 716 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Sodium valproate one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 716 No known interaction 2,114 (incl. Sodium valproate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Coriander

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Sodium valproate

This page covers Coriander only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sodium valproate page lists 173 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 Kava (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sodium valproate page

“Sodium valproate (Epilim) controls seizures and stabilizes mood, and the supplement list on this page warrants genuine care rather than a quick skim. Nine of the 173 ingredients on file carry a major rating, and most of the danger follows two patterns.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sodium valproate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 934 real supplement products containing Coriander, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Coriander. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Sodium valproate too, on top of Coriander — 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 Coriander and Sodium valproate 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 Coriander
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Sodium valproate
Steady interest

#1,868 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 Coriander

What is Coriander?

Coriander
  • Digestive upset and gas
  • Appetite stimulation
  • Mild antimicrobial (topical)
  • Diarrhea and IBS symptoms
  • General flavoring and traditional remedy

Coriander (also called cilantro) is a common cooking herb and spice that has long been used in traditional medicine for digestive complaints. As a food it is generally safe for most people, but high-quality human studies supporting its medicinal benefits are limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated extracts or essential oils.

Read the full Coriander monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Coriander

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

0Major
716Moderate
0Minor
2,113No known interaction
716 Moderate 2,113 No interaction
Moderate

716 interactions

Showing 60 of 716 moderate interactions — see all 716 on the Coriander page.

No interaction 2,113 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,113 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Coriander list.

See the full Coriander interactions page
See every supplement checked against Sodium valproate, 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
Coriander monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Sodium valproate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Sodium valproate, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Coriander and Sodium valproate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Coriander with Sodium valproate?
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 Coriander and Sodium valproate?
Sodium valproate belongs to more than one drug category, and Coriander 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 Coriander and Sodium valproate 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

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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.