Drug & supplement interaction

Durian + Ethanol

Ethanol brand name: Ethanol.

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

Durian has a moderate interaction with Ethanol. There is a traditional belief that ingestion of alcohol with durian can be fatal.

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

Durian and Ethanol

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

Moderate

ALCOHOL (Ethanol)

There is a traditional belief that ingestion of alcohol with durian can be fatal. A case report from 1941 describes an adult in India who developed acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis and died after drinking alcohol with durian, but there have been no other published reports since. A study in mice given homogenized durian fruit flesh in 10% ethanol did not demonstrate any toxicity. However, evidence from in vitro research shows that durian extract can inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase. This activity is similar to the effects of disulfiram. In theory, concomitant use might cause effects similar to disulfiram-ethanol reactions. Until more is known, avoid concomitant use of durian and alcohol.
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 with durian and alcohol. Your body normally clears alcohol using an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. Lab studies suggest compounds in durian may slow that enzyme down. If that happens, a toxic byproduct of alcohol (acetaldehyde) can build up, and that's the same chemical behind the unpleasant 'disulfiram reaction' some people get on certain medications. In plain terms, you might feel flushed, nauseated, headachy, dizzy, or get a racing heartbeat.

That said, I want to keep this in perspective. The worry rests on one very old case report and test-tube data, not solid human studies. So this is more theory than proven danger. Still, since it's easy to avoid, I'd suggest not pairing a big serving of durian with drinking alcohol. If you have questions, your pharmacist or doctor is happy to help.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Singh, P. Journal of the Malaya Branch British Medical Association 1941;5(1):62-63.
  2. Ogle, C. W. and Teh, Y. F. Durian and alcohol. A preliminary report. Singapore Med J 1969;10(4):288-290.
  3. Maninang JS, Lizada, MCC, Gemma, H. Inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme by Durian (Durio zibethinus Murray) fruit extract. Food Chem 2009;117(2):352-355. DOI
  4. Husin NA, Rahman S, Karunakaran R, Bhore SJ. A review on the nutritional, medicinal, molecular and genome attributes of Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) the king of fruits in Malaysia. Bioinformation 2018;14(6):265-70. 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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethanol

This page covers Durian only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethanol page lists 65 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), Coca (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Tansy (major).

By severity: 5 major · 38 moderate · 22 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethanol page

“Ethanol used as a medication is still alcohol, and its supplement list calls for real vigilance, starting with the five entries rated major. GHB is the starkest of these, since combining it with alcohol can cause serious sedation, suppressed breathing, and low blood pressure, a risk confirmed in human studies.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethanol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 15 real supplement products containing Durian, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Durian. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ethanol too, on top of Durian — 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 Durian and Ethanol 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 Durian
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ethanol
Top 5%

#136 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 Durian

What is Durian?

  • General nutrition and energy
  • Traditional tonic or aphrodisiac
  • Digestive support
  • Source of antioxidants
  • Fever and traditional folk remedies

Durian is a popular tropical fruit valued mainly as a nutritious food rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. While it has many traditional medicinal uses, there is little solid human research to support health claims beyond basic nutrition, and it is very high in calories. Enjoy it as a food in moderation, and check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have diabetes or other health concerns.

Read the full Durian monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Durian

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Durian list.

See the full Durian interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ethanol, 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
Durian monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ethanol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethanol, 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 Durian and Ethanol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Durian with Ethanol?
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 Durian and Ethanol 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 Ethanol and Durian?

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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.