Drug & supplement interaction

Corydalis Yanhusuo + Zafirlukast

Zafirlukast brand name: Accolate.

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

Corydalis Yanhusuo has a moderate interaction with Zafirlukast. Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.

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

Corydalis Yanhusuo and Zafirlukast

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Zafirlukast

Zafirlukast falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Corydalis Yanhusuo interacts with.

Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
Corydalis yanhusuo contains berberine. Preliminary clinical research shows that berberine can inhibit CYP2C9. Theoretically, Corydalis yanhusuo might also inhibit 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 simple version: your asthma medicine zafirlukast is cleared from your body by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. Corydalis yanhusuo may contain berberine, which can slow that enzyme down. If the enzyme works slower, zafirlukast could build up a bit higher than usual in your blood, which in theory might mean stronger effects and a slightly higher chance of side effects like headache, nausea, stomach upset, or (rarely) signs of liver irritation.

I want to be honest about how strong this evidence is: it's theoretical, based on how these compounds behave in the lab, not from real-world reports in people taking both. So it's worth a heads-up, not a panic. Before you combine them, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on how you're doing.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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

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

Moderate 1,159 No known interaction 1,671 (incl. Zafirlukast)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Zafirlukast

This page covers Corydalis Yanhusuo only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Zafirlukast page lists 88 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 · 64 moderate · 23 minor.

Open the Zafirlukast interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Corydalis Yanhusuo and Zafirlukast 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
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Zafirlukast
Steady interest

#1,581 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 Zafirlukast

What Is Zafirlukast Used For?

Brand name: Accolate

Zafirlukast tablets are used for the prophylaxis (prevention) and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children 5 years of age and older. It is taken daily to help control ongoing asthma symptoms — not to relieve a sudden asthma attack.

It is available under the brand names Accolate and Zafirlukast as an oral tablet.

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

Can you take Corydalis Yanhusuo with Zafirlukast?
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 Corydalis Yanhusuo and Zafirlukast 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 Zafirlukast 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.