Drug & supplement interaction

Eucalyptus + Pentobarbitone

Pentobarbitone brand name: Pentobarbitone.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Eucalyptus has a moderate interaction with Pentobarbitone. Theoretically, inhaling eucalyptol might reduce the effectiveness of pentobarbital.

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

Eucalyptus and Pentobarbitone

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

Moderate

PENTOBARBITAL (Nembutal)

Theoretically, inhaling eucalyptol might reduce the effectiveness of pentobarbital.
Animal research suggests that inhaling eucalyptol reduces the level of pentobarbital that reaches the brain.
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 for pentobarbital, which is a barbiturate sedative used to calm the nervous system and sometimes for sleep or sedation. The eucalyptol in eucalyptus oil (the part responsible for that sharp, cooling smell) might lower how much pentobarbital actually reaches the brain. So instead of building the drug up, this would tend to weaken it, meaning you could see less of the calming or sleep effect you're counting on.

I'd stress this is theoretical and comes only from animal lab work, not human studies, so the real-world impact in people isn't proven. Still, since pentobarbital is a serious medication, please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before using eucalyptus products around it, and don't change your dose on your own.

References
  1. Jori, A., Bianchetti, A., Prestini, P. E., and Gerattini, S. Effect of eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) on the metabolism of other drugs in rats and in man. Eur.J Pharmacol 1970;9(3):362-366. 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 877 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Pentobarbitone 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 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 Pentobarbitone

This page covers Eucalyptus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pentobarbitone page lists 127 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 Kava (major).

By severity: 7 major · 103 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pentobarbitone page

“Pentobarbitone is a barbiturate, one of the older and heavier sedatives, and the gap between a dose that helps sleep and one that slows breathing too far is not a generous one. That is why I read this particular list with genuine concern.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pentobarbitone 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 Pentobarbitone 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 Pentobarbitone 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Pentobarbitone
Top 25%

#457 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
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
877Moderate
0Minor
1,952No known interaction
Moderate

877 interactions

Showing 60 of 877 moderate interactions — see all 877 on the Eucalyptus page.

No interaction 1,952 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 Eucalyptus and Pentobarbitone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Eucalyptus with Pentobarbitone?
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 Pentobarbitone 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 Pentobarbitone 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.