Drug & supplement interaction

Danshen + Carbidopa, Levodopa

Carbidopa, Levodopa brand names: Sinemet CR, Sinemet, Rytary, Dhivy.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Carbidopa, Levodopa and Danshen in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Danshen safety at a glance

Danshen overall Use caution May be used short-term by some adults, but it can affect blood clotting and quality varies between products.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety information; best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information; best avoided while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Carbidopa, Levodopa and Danshen? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Carbidopa, Levodopa

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Carbidopa, Levodopa is filed under 6 classifications — including levodopa, dopamine agonists, seizure threshold lowering drugs. Danshen has documented interactions with 16 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (major), digoxin (lanoxin) (major) and amlodipine (norvasc) (moderate) — and none of Carbidopa, Levodopa’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Danshen Does Interact With Other Medications

Danshen has 123 major, 936 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Carbidopa, Levodopa isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 123 Moderate 936 No known interaction 1,771 (incl. Carbidopa, Levodopa)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Danshen

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • A low platelet count Worth acting on Additional detail

    Danshen

    “Orally or intravenously, side effects of danshen preparations reported in clinical trials include thrombocytopenia; however, it is not known if this effect was due to danshen or other drugs.”

    Danshen · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in thrombocytopenia.

    1 source cited
    1. 15538. Wu B, Liu M, Zhang S. Dan Shen agents for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007;(2):CD004295. PubMed

    Carbidopa, Levodopa

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Carbidopa, Levodopa. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Drowsiness / Dizziness / Headache Additional detail

    Danshen

    “Orally or intravenously, in clinical trials, side effects of danshen preparations include drowsiness, dizziness, or headache; however, it is not known if these effects were due to danshen or other drugs.”

    Danshen · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    2 sources cited
    1. 15538. Wu B, Liu M, Zhang S. Dan Shen agents for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007;(2):CD004295. PubMed
    2. 109370. Ma XJ, Duan WH, Zhang Y, et al. Combination of activating blood circulation and detoxifying Chinese medicines played an anti-inflammatory role in unstable angina patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: A multicenter, open-labeled, randomized co

    Carbidopa, Levodopa

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Carbidopa, Levodopa. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Reduced appetite / Stomach upset Additional detail

    Danshen

    “Orally, danshen seems to be well tolerated. There is limited reliable information available about the adverse effects of danshen when used intravenously.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally or intravenously: Upset stomach, pruritus, and reduced appetite.”

    Danshen · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    Carbidopa, Levodopa

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Carbidopa, Levodopa. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Itching Additional detail

    Danshen

    “Orally or intravenously, danshen can cause pruritus (12,96440).”

    Danshen · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    2 sources cited
    1. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
    2. 96440. Yin QS, Chen L, Mi RH, Ai H, Yin JJ, Liu XJ, Wei XD. Efficacy and safety of danshen compound tablets in preventing thalidomide-associated thromboembolism in patients with multiple myeloma: a multicenter retrospective study. Med Sci Monit. 2016 Oct 20;22:3 PubMed

    Carbidopa, Levodopa

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Carbidopa, Levodopa. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Effects for Carbidopa, Levodopa come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Danshen come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Carbidopa, Levodopa

This page covers Danshen only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Carbidopa, Levodopa page lists 43 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Branched-chain Amino Acids (bcaa) (major), Cowhage (major), Indian Snakeroot (major) and Magnesium (major).

By severity: 8 major · 24 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Carbidopa, Levodopa page

“Carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet, Rytary) anchors Parkinson's treatment, and because symptom control hinges on how much levodopa actually reaches the brain, the 43 supplements and herbs on this list deserve real respect before you add any of them. Eight carry a major rating, and almost all of the serious entries weaken the drug rather than…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Carbidopa, Levodopa interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 18 real supplement products containing Danshen, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Danshen. Even though Danshen itself has no known interaction with Carbidopa, Levodopa, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa 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 Danshen
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Carbidopa, Levodopa
Top 5%

#87 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Danshen reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Danshen

What is Danshen?

Danshen
  • Heart and circulation support
  • Angina (chest pain)
  • High blood pressure
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Liver health

Danshen is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly for heart and circulation problems. Some early research is promising, but the evidence is not strong enough to confirm it works for any condition, and it may affect blood clotting. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you take other medicines or have a health condition.

Salvia miltiorrhiza · Lamiaceae · Root · Capsules, tablets, dried root, teas, tinctures, and injectable forms used in some Asian countries

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Danshen is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Danshen record says about it on its own.

Danshen: dosing

There is no well-established standard dose of Danshen for any condition. Studies have used different forms, strengths, and preparations, which makes it hard to recommend a single dose.If you choose to use a Danshen product, follow the directions on the product label and do not take more than recommended.

From our Danshen monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Danshen monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Levodopa and Carbidopa

What Is Levodopa and Carbidopa Used For?

Brand names: Sinemet CR, Sinemet, Rytary, Dhivy

Levodopa and carbidopa is used to treat Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism (parkinsonism that develops after a brain infection), and symptomatic parkinsonism that can follow carbon monoxide or manganese poisoning. These indications are shared across the oral tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, extended-release tablet, and extended-release capsule formulations (including Sinemet, Rytary, Crexont, and generic products).

DUOPA — a carbidopa/levodopa suspension given through a tube directly into the small intestine — is specifically indicated for the treatment of motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. This is a product-specific indication and does not apply to the oral forms.

See full Levodopa and Carbidopa drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Danshen

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

123Major
936Moderate
0Minor
1,770No known interaction
123 Major 936 Moderate 1,770 No interaction
Major

123 interactions

Showing 60 of 123 major interactions — see all 123 on the Danshen page.

Moderate

936 interactions

Showing 60 of 936 moderate interactions — see all 936 on the Danshen page.

No interaction 1,770 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,770 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Danshen list.

See the full Danshen interactions page
See every supplement checked against Carbidopa, Levodopa, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Danshen References

The 28 references that drive our Danshen monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Yu CM, Chan JC, Sanderson JE. Chinese herbs and warfarin potentiation by danshen. J Intern Med 1997;241:337-9. PubMed
  3. Tam LS, et al. Warfarin interacions with Chinese traditional medicines: danshen and methyl salicylate medicated oil. Aust N Z J Med 1995;25:258.
  4. Chan TY. Interaction between warfarin and danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza). Ann Pharmacother 2001;35:501-4. DOI
  5. Chan TY. Drug interactions as a cause of overanticoagulation and bleedings in Chinese patients receiving warfarin. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1998;36:403-5.
  6. Izzat MB, Yim APC, El-Zufari MH. A taste of Chinese medicine! Ann Thorac Surg 1998;66:941-2. PubMed
  7. Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:1221-7. DOI
  8. Wahed A, Dasgupta A. Positive and negative in vitro interference of Chinese medicine dan shen in serum digoxin measurement. Elimination of interference by monitoring free digoxin concentration. Am J Clin Pathol 2001;116:403-408. PubMed
  9. Wu B, Liu M, Zhang S. Dan Shen agents for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007;(2):CD004295. PubMed
  10. Qiu F, Wang G, Zhang R, Sun J, et al. Effect of danshen extract on the activity of CYP3A4 in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2010;69:656-62. PubMed
  11. Li CP, Yung KH, and Chiu KW. Hypotensive action of Salvia miltiorrhiza cell culture extract. American Journal of Chinese Medicine 1990;18(3-4):157-166.
  12. Chu Y, Zhang L, Wang XY, Guo JH, Guo ZX, Ma XH. The effect of Compound Danshen Dripping Pills, a Chinese herb medicine, on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Oct 11;137(3):1457-61. PubMed
  13. Ma S, Ju W, Dai G, Zhao W, Cheng X, Fang Z, Tan H, Wang X. Synergistic effects of clopidogrel and fufang danshen dripping pills by modulation of the metabolism target and pharmacokinetics. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:789142. PubMed
  14. Qiu F, Jiang J, Ma Y, Wang G, Gao C, Zhang X, Zhang L, Liu S, He M, Zhu L, Ye Y, Li Q, Miao P. Opposite Effects of Single-Dose and Multidose Administration of the Ethanol Extract of Danshen on CYP3A in Healthy Volunteers. Evid Based Complement Alternat Me PubMed
  15. Qiu F, Zeng J, Liu S, He M, Zhu L, Ye Y, Miao P, Shen S, Jiang J. Effects of danshen ethanol extract on the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine in healthy volunteers. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:473213. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Danshen with Carbidopa, Levodopa?
We do not list a known interaction between Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 7 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Danshen and Carbidopa, Levodopa combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Carbidopa, Levodopa is filed under 6 classifications, and Danshen has documented interactions with 16 drug classes — none of Carbidopa, Levodopa's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Danshen interact with any other medications?
Yes. Danshen has 1,059 documented drug interactions in our database — Carbidopa, Levodopa is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Carbidopa, Levodopa interact with any supplements?
Yes. Carbidopa, Levodopa has documented interactions with 43 supplements in our database — Danshen is not one of them. The Carbidopa, Levodopa interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Danshen monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Levodopa and Carbidopa drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Carbidopa, Levodopa supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Carbidopa, Levodopa, 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 References The 28 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Carbidopa, Levodopa and Danshen?

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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.