Drug & supplement interaction

Ephedra + Digoxin

Digoxin brand names: Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin, Digitek.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Ephedra and Digoxin 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

Ephedra and Digoxin

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 Digoxin and Ephedra 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.

Ephedra safety at a glance

Ephedra overall Avoid Banned in dietary supplements in the U.S. due to serious cardiovascular risks, including death.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally. Ephedra has been linked to several cases of severe side effects. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally. Ephedra has been linked to several cases of severe side effects. Read the full breastfeeding detail

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 Digoxin and Ephedra? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Digoxin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Digoxin is filed under 5 classifications — including glucuronidated drugs, p-glycoprotein substrates, oral drugs. Ephedra has documented interactions with 11 drug classes — the most serious being methylxanthines (major), qt interval-prolonging drugs (major) and stimulant drugs (major) — and none of Digoxin’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

Ephedra Does Interact With Other Medications

Ephedra has 337 major, 497 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Digoxin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 337 Moderate 497 No known interaction 1,996 (incl. Digoxin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ephedra

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Ephedra and Digoxin 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. 3 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Hallucinations Worth acting on Additional detail

    Ephedra

    “Orally, ephedra is frequently associated with adverse reactions and is banned in the US. In some cases, adverse effects can be severe or life-threatening. Large studies looking at the safety of ephedra have not been performed. Since most of the adverse effect data are from case reports, it is impossible to determine the overall incidence of these adverse effects.”

    Ephedra · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.

    “The use of ephedra causes a 2.2- to 3.6-fold increase in the risk of developing psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cardiac palpitations. Ephedra most commonly causes anxiety, irritability, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia.

    Cases of ephedrine-induced psychiatric complications include mania, psychosis, and hallucinations.”

    Ephedra · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 9740. Shekelle PG, Hardy ML, Morton SC, et al. Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2003;289:1537-45.. PubMed
    2. 48878. Shekelle P, Morton, S, Maglione, M, and et al. Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement: Clinical Efficacy and Side Effects. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 76 (Prepared by Southern California Evidence-based Pr
    3. 1276. Doyle H, Kargin M. Herbal stimulant containing ephedrine has also caused psychosis. BMJ 1996;313:756. PubMed
    4. 3719. Boozer CN, Nasser JA, Heymsfield SB, et al. An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001;25:316-24. PubMed
    5. 6008. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA. Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:963-9. PubMed
    6. 6486. Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-8. PubMed

    Digoxin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Digoxin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Heart failure / An irregular heartbeat Worth acting on Additional detail

    Ephedra

    “The use of ephedra causes a 2.2- to 3.6-fold increase in the risk of developing psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cardiac palpitations. Orally, ephedra use has been associated with cardiomyopathy, hypersensitivity myocarditis, chest tightness, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest and sudden death, hypertension, tachycardia, and cardiac arrhythmias.”

    Ephedra · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 9740. Shekelle PG, Hardy ML, Morton SC, et al. Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2003;289:1537-45.. PubMed
    2. 48878. Shekelle P, Morton, S, Maglione, M, and et al. Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement: Clinical Efficacy and Side Effects. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 76 (Prepared by Southern California Evidence-based Pr
    3. 1270. Okada S, Rohan PJ, Miller FW, et al. Myopathies following ingestion of special nutritional products. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:349.
    4. 48801. Singh, A., Rajeev, A. G., and Dohrmann, M. L. Cardiomyopathy associated with ephedra-containing nutritional supplements. Congest.Heart Fail. 2008;14(2):89-90. PubMed
    5. 1271. Zaacks SM, Klein L, Tan CD, et al. Hypersensitivity myocarditis associated with ephedra use. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999;37:485-9. PubMed
    6. 6487. Leikin JB, Klein L. Ephedra causes myocarditis. Clin Toxicol 2000;38:353-4.

    Digoxin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Digoxin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A fast or pounding heartbeat / Reduced appetite Additional detail

    Ephedra

    “The use of ephedra causes a 2.2- to 3.6-fold increase in the risk of developing psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cardiac palpitations. Orally and intravenously, ephedra and ephedrine most commonly cause dry mouth, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal discomfort, and changes in stool consistency.”

    Ephedra · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 9740. Shekelle PG, Hardy ML, Morton SC, et al. Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2003;289:1537-45.. PubMed
    2. 48878. Shekelle P, Morton, S, Maglione, M, and et al. Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement: Clinical Efficacy and Side Effects. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 76 (Prepared by Southern California Evidence-based Pr
    3. 1276. Doyle H, Kargin M. Herbal stimulant containing ephedrine has also caused psychosis. BMJ 1996;313:756. PubMed
    4. 3719. Boozer CN, Nasser JA, Heymsfield SB, et al. An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001;25:316-24. PubMed
    5. 6008. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA. Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:963-9. PubMed
    6. 6486. Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-8. PubMed

    Digoxin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Digoxin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Anxiety or restlessness Additional detail

    Ephedra

    Recorded for Ephedra in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Hallucinations above.

    Digoxin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Digoxin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach upset / Stomach pain / Diarrhea Additional detail

    Ephedra

    Recorded for Ephedra in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A fast or pounding heartbeat / Reduced appetite above.

    Digoxin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Digoxin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dizziness Additional detail

    Ephedra

    “The use of ephedra causes a 2.2- to 3.6-fold increase in the risk of developing psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cardiac palpitations. Ephedra most commonly causes dizziness, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and headache.

    Ephedra can cause seizures in otherwise healthy people, as well as in people with underlying seizure disorde…”

    Ephedra · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 9740. Shekelle PG, Hardy ML, Morton SC, et al. Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2003;289:1537-45.. PubMed
    2. 48878. Shekelle P, Morton, S, Maglione, M, and et al. Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement: Clinical Efficacy and Side Effects. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 76 (Prepared by Southern California Evidence-based Pr
    3. 1276. Doyle H, Kargin M. Herbal stimulant containing ephedrine has also caused psychosis. BMJ 1996;313:756. PubMed
    4. 3719. Boozer CN, Nasser JA, Heymsfield SB, et al. An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001;25:316-24. PubMed
    5. 6008. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA. Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:963-9. PubMed
    6. 6486. Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-8. PubMed

    Digoxin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Digoxin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 13 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Ephedra but not commonly for Digoxin: a stroke or mini-stroke, trouble concentrating, fainting and a heart attack.

Effects for Digoxin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Ephedra 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.

Special populations

Ephedra in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally. Ephedra has been linked to several cases of severe side effects.

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 Ephedra or Digoxin

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

This page covers Ephedra only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Digoxin page lists 113 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Aloe (major), Blue Flag (major), Danshen (major) and European Buckthorn (major).

By severity: 18 major · 79 moderate · 16 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Digoxin page

“Digoxin is a heart medicine with a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the gap between a helpful blood level and a harmful one is small, and few drugs give me more pause when supplements enter the picture. The most serious entries here are herbs that themselves contain digoxin-like cardiac glycosides, foxglove and lily-of-the-valley amon…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Digoxin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 37 real supplement products containing Ephedra, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Ephedra. Even though Ephedra itself has no known interaction with Digoxin, 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 Ephedra and Digoxin 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 Ephedra
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Digoxin
Top 25%

#469 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 Ephedra reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified October 4, 2026. The Ephedra and Digoxin 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 Ephedra

What is Ephedra?

Ephedra
  • Weight loss
  • Nasal and sinus congestion
  • Asthma and breathing problems
  • Boosting energy and athletic performance
  • Allergies

Ephedra (ma huang) contains powerful stimulants like ephedrine that affect the heart and nervous system. Because it has been linked to serious harms including high blood pressure, stroke, and death, it is banned for use in dietary supplements in the U.S. and many other countries. We do not recommend using ephedra-containing supplements; talk to your pharmacist or doctor about safer, approved options.

Ephedra sinica · Ephedraceae · Dried stems and branches (aerial parts) · Historically: capsules, tablets, teas, and tinctures (now banned in dietary supplements in many countries)

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

Ephedra: dosing

There is no safe, recommended supplement dose for ephedra. It is banned in dietary supplements in the U.S. and many other countries, so we cannot and do not provide a dose.Some regulated, FDA-approved over-the-counter medicines (for example certain asthma products) contain ephedrine in carefully controlled amounts and come with specific label directions.

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

Read the full Ephedra monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Digoxin

What Is Digoxin Used For?

Brand names: Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin, Digitek

Digoxin treats mild to moderate heart failure in adults. It improves heart failure symptoms and exercise capacity, and it reduces heart failure-related hospitalizations and emergency care. It does not change survival.

It also helps control the resting heart rate in adults with chronic atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). In children with heart failure, the tablet, oral solution and most injection products are used to increase the heart’s pumping strength (myocardial contractility). Some older injection labels list only the adult uses. Digoxin Oral Solution should not be used for multifocal atrial tachycardia.

See full Digoxin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ephedra

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

337Major
497Moderate
0Minor
1,995No known interaction
337 Major 497 Moderate 1,995 No interaction
Major

337 interactions

Showing 60 of 337 major interactions — see all 337 on the Ephedra page.

Moderate

497 interactions

Showing 60 of 497 moderate interactions — see all 497 on the Ephedra page.

No interaction 1,995 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,995 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ephedra list.

See the full Ephedra interactions page
See every supplement checked against Digoxin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Ephedra References

The 87 references that drive our Ephedra 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. Okada S, Rohan PJ, Miller FW, et al. Myopathies following ingestion of special nutritional products. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:349.
  2. Zaacks SM, Klein L, Tan CD, et al. Hypersensitivity myocarditis associated with ephedra use. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999;37:485-9. PubMed
  3. Powell T, Hsu FF, Turk J, Hruska K. Ma-huang strikes again: ephedrine nephrolithiasis. Am J Kidney Dis 1998;32:153-9. PubMed
  4. Nadir A, Agrawal S, King PD, Marshall JB. Acute hepatitis associated with the use of a Chinese herbal product, ma-huang. Am J Gastroenterol 1996;91:1436-8.
  5. Theoharides TC. Sudden death of a healthy college student related to ephedrine toxicity from a ma-huang containing drink. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1997;17:437-9. PubMed
  6. Vahedi K, Domingo V, Amarenco P, Bousser MG. Ischemic stroke in a sportsman who consumed MaHuang extract and creatine monohydrate for bodybuilding. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 2000;68:112-3.
  7. Doyle H, Kargin M. Herbal stimulant containing ephedrine has also caused psychosis. BMJ 1996;313:756. PubMed
  8. FDA Takes Aim at Ephedra. The Washington Post. Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/03/19/fda-takes-aim-at-ephedra/4ce534a7-d291-44ec-88a8-38e97ff27e3b/ (Accessed 19 March 2000).
  9. FDA. Proposed rule: dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. Available at: www.verity.fda.gov (Accessed 25 January 2000).
  10. Boozer CN, Nasser JA, Heymsfield SB, et al. An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001;25:316-24. PubMed
  11. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA. Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:963-9. PubMed
  12. White LM, Gardner SF, Gurley BJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics and Cardiovascular Effects of Ma-Huang (Ephedra sinica) in Normotensive Adults. J Clin Pharmacol 1997;37:116-22.
  13. Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-8. PubMed
  14. Leikin JB, Klein L. Ephedra causes myocarditis. Clin Toxicol 2000;38:353-4.
  15. Jacobs KM, Hirsch KA. Psychiatric complications of Ma-huang. Psychosomatics 2000;41:58-62. 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 Ephedra and Digoxin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Ephedra with Digoxin?
We do not list a known interaction between Ephedra and Digoxin. 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 Ephedra and Digoxin have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 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 Ephedra and Digoxin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Digoxin is filed under 5 classifications, and Ephedra has documented interactions with 11 drug classes — none of Digoxin'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 Ephedra interact with any other medications?
Yes. Ephedra has 834 documented drug interactions in our database — Digoxin 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 Digoxin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Digoxin has documented interactions with 113 supplements in our database — Ephedra is not one of them. The Digoxin 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

Ephedra monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Digoxin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Digoxin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Digoxin, 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 87 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Digoxin and Ephedra?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.