Drug & supplement interaction

Eastern Red Cedar + Zaleplon

Zaleplon brand names: Sonata, Starnoc.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon 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.

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Interaction report

Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon

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 Zaleplon and Eastern Red Cedar 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.

Eastern Red Cedar safety at a glance

Eastern Red Cedar overall Use caution Often used topically or for aroma, but the essential oil can be harmful if swallowed and human safety data are limited.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally. Eastern red cedar is contraindicated in pregnancy due to reports of abortifacient activity. The specific part or dose of Eastern red cedar ass... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information exists, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Zaleplon and Eastern Red Cedar? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Zaleplon

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Zaleplon is filed under 3 classifications — cns depressants, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates, oral drugs. Eastern Red Cedar has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being barbiturates (minor) — and none of Zaleplon’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

Eastern Red Cedar Does Interact With Other Medications

Eastern Red Cedar has 49 minor known drug interactions in our database — Zaleplon isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Minor 49 No known interaction 2,781 (incl. Zaleplon)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Eastern Red Cedar

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

What to actually watch for

What Eastern Red Cedar Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Zaleplon. It is the side-effect record for Eastern Red Cedar on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Eastern Red Cedar, this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Seizures / An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, overdose of Eastern red cedar oil might cause burning in the stomach, vomiting, convulsions, coma, and death (12). Topically, Eastern red cedar oil might cause local allergic reactions and irritation; however, several clinical assessments of safety show that applying Eastern red cedar oil topically does not cause skin sensitization or irritation (11,98802).”

    Eastern Red Cedar · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    3 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. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
    3. 98802. Johnson W. Final report on the safety assessment of Juniperus communis Extract, Juniperus oxycedrus Extract, Juniperus oxycedrus Tar, Juniperus phoenicea extract, and Juniperus virginiana Extract. Int J Toxicol 2001;20 Suppl 2:41-56. PubMed
  • Vomiting Additional detail

    “Orally, overdose of Eastern red cedar oil (dose not specified) might cause burning in the stomach and vomiting (12).”

    Eastern Red Cedar · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    1 source 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.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Eastern Red Cedar — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Zaleplon’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Zaleplon column appears here.

Special populations

Eastern Red Cedar in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally. Eastern red cedar is contraindicated in pregnancy due to reports of abortifacient activity. The specific part or dose of Eastern red cedar associated with its abortifacient activity is unclear; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Eastern Red Cedar or Zaleplon

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Eastern Red Cedar or Zaleplon, 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 Zaleplon

This page covers Eastern Red Cedar only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Zaleplon page lists 195 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 Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 39 minor.

Open the Zaleplon interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Eastern Red Cedar as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 8 real supplement products containing Eastern Red Cedar, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Eastern Red Cedar. Even though Eastern Red Cedar itself has no known interaction with Zaleplon, 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 Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon 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 Eastern Red Cedar
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Zaleplon
Steady interest

#2,234 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 Eastern Red Cedar reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Eastern Red Cedar

What is Eastern Red Cedar?

  • Insect repellent
  • Aromatherapy and relaxation
  • Skin and minor wound care (topical, traditional)
  • Respiratory or congestion relief (traditional)
  • Antimicrobial and antifungal (lab-based interest)

Eastern Red Cedar is a North American evergreen tree whose wood and aromatic oil have long been used for fragrance, insect repelling, and folk remedies. Solid human research on its health benefits is very limited, and the essential oil can be toxic if swallowed, so it is mainly used externally or for aroma. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Juniperus virginiana · Cupressaceae · Leaves (needles), wood, berry-like cones, and essential oil · Essential oil, dried leaf, wood shavings/sachets, tinctures, and topical preparations

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

Eastern Red Cedar: dosing

There is no established, standardized medicinal dose for Eastern Red Cedar. It is not a well-studied oral supplement, and the essential oil is not meant to be taken by mouth.For aromatherapy or topical use, follow the directions on the specific product label and always dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil before applying to skin.

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

Read the full Eastern Red Cedar monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Zaleplon

What Is Zaleplon Used For?

Brand names: Sonata, Starnoc

Zaleplon capsules are approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Specifically, they help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep (sleep onset). Clinical studies showed this benefit for up to 30 days of use.

Zaleplon has not been shown to increase total sleep time or reduce the number of times you wake up during the night. It is intended for short-term use, and if sleep problems continue beyond 7–10 days, a doctor should evaluate you for an underlying cause.

See full Zaleplon drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Eastern Red Cedar

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

0Major
0Moderate
49Minor
2,780No known interaction
49 Minor 2,780 No interaction
Minor

49 interactions

No interaction 2,780 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,780 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Eastern Red Cedar list.

See the full Eastern Red Cedar interactions page
See every supplement checked against Zaleplon, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Eastern Red Cedar References

The 4 references that drive our Eastern Red Cedar 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. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  4. Johnson W. Final report on the safety assessment of Juniperus communis Extract, Juniperus oxycedrus Extract, Juniperus oxycedrus Tar, Juniperus phoenicea extract, and Juniperus virginiana Extract. Int J Toxicol 2001;20 Suppl 2:41-56. 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 Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Eastern Red Cedar with Zaleplon?
We do not list a known interaction between Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon. 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.
How was the Eastern Red Cedar and Zaleplon combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Zaleplon is filed under 3 classifications, and Eastern Red Cedar has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Zaleplon'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 Eastern Red Cedar interact with any other medications?
Yes. Eastern Red Cedar has 49 documented drug interactions in our database — Zaleplon 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 Zaleplon interact with any supplements?
Yes. Zaleplon has documented interactions with 195 supplements in our database — Eastern Red Cedar is not one of them. The Zaleplon 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

Eastern Red Cedar monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Zaleplon drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Zaleplon supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Zaleplon, 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 4 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Zaleplon and Eastern Red Cedar?

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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.