Drug & supplement interaction

Corydalis Yanhusuo + Tacrolimus

Tacrolimus brand names: Prograf (capsule), Prograf (injectable), Protopic, Prograf XL, Astagraf XL, and others.

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

Tacrolimus falls into 2 drug categories that Corydalis Yanhusuo can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.

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

Corydalis Yanhusuo and Tacrolimus

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Corydalis Yanhusuo interacts with whole categories of medication. Tacrolimus falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Corydalis Yanhusuo 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 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Tacrolimus

Tacrolimus falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Corydalis Yanhusuo interacts with.

Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Corydalis yanhusuo contains berberine. In vitro research and preliminary clinical research show that berberine moderately inhibits CYP3A4. Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might also inhibit CYP3A4.
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 for tacrolimus. Your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to break tacrolimus down and keep it in a safe range. Corydalis yanhusuo contains berberine, which lab and early human studies suggest can slow that enzyme down. If that happens, tacrolimus may clear more slowly and build up in your blood.

Tacrolimus is a narrow therapeutic index drug, so even small rises matter. Higher levels can mean more kidney strain, hand tremors, headaches, high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, or tingling. The good news is this concern is mostly theoretical right now, not proven in transplant patients. Still, because protecting your transplant is so important, please don't add corydalis without first checking with your transplant team or pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Wu X, Li Q, Xin H, Yu A, Zhong M. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61:567-72. PubMed
  2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  3. Guo, Y., Chen, Y., Tan, Z. R., Klaassen, C. D., and Zhou, H. H. Repeated administration of berberine inhibits cytochromes P450 in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2012;68(2):213-217. PubMed
  4. Hermann, R. and von, Richter O. Clinical evidence of herbal drugs as perpetrators of pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Planta Med 2012;78(13):1458-1477. PubMed
Moderate

TACROLIMUS (Prograf)

2 of 2
Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might increase blood levels of tacrolimus.
Corydalis yanhusuo contains berberine. In a 16-year-old patient with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who was being treated with tacrolimus 6.5 mg twice daily, intake of berberine 200 mg three times daily increased the blood concentration of tacrolimus from 8 to 22 ng/mL. Following a reduction of the tacrolimus dose to 3 mg daily, blood levels of tacrolimus decreased to 12 ng/mL. It is unclear if Corydalis yanhusuo might have this same effect.
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 concern with pairing this herb and your tacrolimus. Corydalis can contain berberine, a compound that may slow down how your body clears tacrolimus. If that happens, tacrolimus levels in your blood can climb higher than intended. Tacrolimus is a narrow therapeutic index drug, meaning the gap between a helpful dose and a too-high one is small, so even modest changes matter. Higher levels could mean more side effects like kidney strain, hand tremors, high blood pressure, headaches, or raised blood sugar.

To be fair, this is theoretical and based mostly on one case report with berberine itself, not Corydalis directly. Still, with a transplant medication you don't want surprises. Please check with your transplant team or pharmacist before adding Corydalis, and never adjust your tacrolimus on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hou Q, Han W, Fu X. Pharmacokinetic interaction between tacrolimus and berberine in a child with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2013;69(10):1861-2. 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

Corydalis Yanhusuo Also Interacts With Other Medications

Corydalis Yanhusuo has 1,159 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Tacrolimus one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,159 No known interaction 1,671 (incl. Tacrolimus)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Corydalis Yanhusuo

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Corydalis Yanhusuo or Tacrolimus

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

This page covers Corydalis Yanhusuo only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tacrolimus page lists 202 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Asarabacca (major) and Cesium (major).

By severity: 11 major · 152 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tacrolimus page

“Tacrolimus (Prograf, Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR) keeps a transplanted organ from being rejected, and it works inside a narrow blood-level window, meaning even small shifts can invite rejection or toxicity. That makes these 202 supplement interactions worth real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tacrolimus interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Corydalis Yanhusuo and Tacrolimus 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 Corydalis Yanhusuo
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Tacrolimus
Top 25%

#398 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 Corydalis Yanhusuo

What is Corydalis Yanhusuo?

  • Pain relief
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Headache
  • Stress and sleep support
  • Stomach and abdominal discomfort

Corydalis yanhusuo is a traditional Chinese herb used mainly for pain. Some early laboratory and animal research suggests its compounds may affect pain and the nervous system, but high-quality human studies are limited, so its true benefits and long-term safety are not well established. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Corydalis Yanhusuo monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Tacrolimus

What Is Tacrolimus Used For?

Brand names: Prograf (capsule), Prograf (injectable), Protopic, Prograf XL, Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR

Tacrolimus is prescribed to help prevent your body from rejecting a transplanted organ. It is used in adults who receive a kidney, liver, or heart transplant, and in children who receive a liver transplant. It is always used alongside other anti-rejection medicines.

Because tacrolimus works by dampening your immune system, it lowers the risk of your body attacking the new organ — but it also means you need to be watched closely for infections and other side effects throughout your treatment.

See full Tacrolimus drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Corydalis Yanhusuo

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

0Major
1,159Moderate
0Minor
1,670No known interaction
1,159 Moderate 1,670 No interaction
Moderate

1,159 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,159 moderate interactions — see all 1,159 on the Corydalis Yanhusuo page.

No interaction 1,670 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,670 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Corydalis Yanhusuo list.

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

Can you take Corydalis Yanhusuo with Tacrolimus?
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 Corydalis Yanhusuo and Tacrolimus?
Tacrolimus belongs to more than one drug category, and Corydalis Yanhusuo 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 Corydalis Yanhusuo and Tacrolimus 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 Tacrolimus and Corydalis Yanhusuo?

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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.