Drug & supplement interaction

Eucalyptus + Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor

Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor brand name: Orkambi.

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

Eucalyptus has a moderate interaction with Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor. Theoretically, eucalyptus might increase the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Eucalyptus and Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor

Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Eucalyptus interacts with.

Theoretically, eucalyptus might increase the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research suggests that eucalyptus oil might inhibit CYP3A4, although this has not been reported in humans.
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 Orkambi (lumacaftor and ivacaftor). The ivacaftor part is handled by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In test-tube studies, eucalyptus oil appeared to slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happened in the body, ivacaftor could build up slightly, which might mean a higher chance of side effects like headache, nausea, upset stomach, dizziness, or changes in liver tests.

I want to keep this in perspective, though. This is only lab data and has never been shown to matter in real people, so it's largely theoretical. Smelling eucalyptus in a vapor rub or lozenge is very unlikely to be an issue. Before using concentrated eucalyptus products, just run it by your CF team or pharmacist so they can keep an eye on things.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Unger M, Frank A. Simultaneous determination of the inhibitory potency of herbal extracts on the activity of six major cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and automated online extraction. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2004;1 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.

Keep it in perspective

Eucalyptus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Eucalyptus has 879 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 879 No known interaction 1,951 (incl. Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Eucalyptus

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor

This page covers Eucalyptus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor page lists 153 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 110 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor page

“Ivacaftor with lumacaftor (Orkambi) only works against cystic fibrosis if its blood level stays steady, and most of the supplements on this page can tug that level up or down through a shared liver pathway called CYP3A4. Grapefruit can push the level higher, St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 216 real supplement products containing Eucalyptus, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Eucalyptus. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor too, on top of Eucalyptus — 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 Eucalyptus and Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor 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 Eucalyptus
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor
Top 5%

#126 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 Eucalyptus

What is Eucalyptus?

Eucalyptus
  • Cough and chest congestion
  • Colds and flu symptoms
  • Stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Minor muscle and joint aches
  • Aromatherapy

Eucalyptus is best known for its strong-smelling oil used in vapor rubs, inhalants, and lozenges to ease coughs and congestion. It may provide mild, short-term relief of cold symptoms, but the oil is toxic if swallowed and must never be taken by mouth undiluted. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially in children, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.

Read the full Eucalyptus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lumacaftor and Ivacaftor

What Is Lumacaftor and Ivacaftor Used For?

Brand name: Orkambi

Lumacaftor and ivacaftor (Orkambi) treats cystic fibrosis (CF) in people aged 1 year and older who are homozygous for the F508del mutation in the CFTR gene. Homozygous means you inherited the mutation from both parents.

If your genetic makeup is unknown, an FDA-cleared CF mutation test is used to check for the mutation on both copies of the gene. Orkambi has not been shown to be safe or effective in people with CF who do not have two copies of F508del.

See full Lumacaftor and Ivacaftor drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Eucalyptus

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

0Major
879Moderate
0Minor
1,950No known interaction
879 Moderate 1,950 No interaction
Moderate

879 interactions

Showing 60 of 879 moderate interactions — see all 879 on the Eucalyptus page.

No interaction 1,950 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,950 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Eucalyptus list.

See the full Eucalyptus interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor, 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
Eucalyptus monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor, ranked by severity Lumacaftor and Ivacaftor drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Eucalyptus and Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor Together: Common Questions

Can you take Eucalyptus with Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor?
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 Eucalyptus and Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor 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 Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor and Eucalyptus?

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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.