Drug & supplement interaction

Elecampane + Alfentanil

Alfentanil brand name: Alfenta.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Elecampane has a moderate interaction with Alfentanil. Theoretically, elecampane may cause additive sedative effects when taken with CNS depressants.

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

Elecampane and Alfentanil

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Alfentanil

Alfentanil falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Elecampane interacts with.

Theoretically, elecampane may cause additive sedative effects when taken with CNS depressants.
Elecampane might have sedative effects.
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

Alfentanil is a strong, fast-acting opioid painkiller used mainly during surgery and procedures, so it's given in a monitored medical setting. On its own it can cause heavy drowsiness, slowed breathing, and a drop in alertness. The concern here is simple: elecampane may have mild sedative properties of its own, so pairing the two could, in theory, add to that calming, sleepy effect.

I want to be honest about the strength of this. It's a theoretical concern based on how the herb behaves, not on solid human studies. Still, because alfentanil already pushes hard on breathing and alertness, it's worth mentioning anything to your anesthesia team or pharmacist beforehand. Please don't start or stop either one on your own.

References
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

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

Elecampane Also Interacts With Other Medications

Elecampane has 247 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Alfentanil one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Elecampane

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Alfentanil

This page covers Elecampane only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Alfentanil page lists 202 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), Fever Bark (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 10 major · 153 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Alfentanil page

“Alfentanil (Alfenta) is a potent, fast-acting opioid, usually given during surgery, and that potency is why this page deserves genuine care rather than a passing glance. Ten of the 202 ingredients listed are rated major, and they cluster into two problems: extra sedation stacked on a drug that already suppresses breathing, and changes…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Alfentanil interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 332 real supplement products containing Elecampane, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Elecampane. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Alfentanil too, on top of Elecampane — 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 Elecampane and Alfentanil 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 Elecampane
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Alfentanil
Steady interest

#2,112 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 Elecampane

What is Elecampane?

Elecampane
  • Cough and bronchitis
  • Asthma symptoms
  • Loosening mucus (expectorant)
  • Digestive upset
  • Intestinal worms (traditional)

Elecampane is a traditional herb used mainly for coughs and other respiratory complaints, and as a bitter for digestion. Modern human evidence is very limited, so it should be seen as a folk remedy rather than a proven treatment. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Elecampane monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Elecampane

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

0Major
247Moderate
0Minor
2,582No known interaction
Moderate

247 interactions

Showing 60 of 247 moderate interactions — see all 247 on the Elecampane page.

No interaction 2,582 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Elecampane and Alfentanil Together: Common Questions

Can you take Elecampane with Alfentanil?
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 Elecampane and Alfentanil 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 Alfentanil and Elecampane?

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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.