Drug & supplement interaction

European Barberry + Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol

Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol brand names: Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol, Robaxacet 8.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

European Barberry has a moderate interaction with Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol. Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs that have sedative properties may cause additive effects.

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

European Barberry and Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol

Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group European Barberry interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs that have sedative properties may cause additive effects.
Animal research suggests that berberine, a constituent of European barberry, might have sedative effects. Theoretically, European barberry might have a similar effect.
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

This combination pill already has two ingredients that can make you sleepy: codeine (an opioid pain reliever) and methocarbamol (a muscle relaxant). The concern here is simple addition. In animal studies, the berberine found in European barberry seemed to have a calming, sedative effect of its own. So in theory, pairing it with this medicine could pile on extra drowsiness, dizziness, slowed thinking, or that foggy, heavy-eyed feeling.

I want to be honest that this is a theoretical worry based on lab and animal data, not strong human studies, so the real-world risk is likely modest. Still, if you notice unusual sleepiness or feel unsteady, that's worth paying attention to. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them, especially before driving.

References
  1. Shanbhag, S. M., Kulkarni, H. J., and Gaitonde, B. B. Pharmacological actions of berberine on the central nervous system. Jpn.J Pharmacol 1970;20(4):482-487. PubMed
  2. Sabir M and Bhide NK. Study of some pharmacological actions of berberine. Ind J Physiol & Pharmac 1971;15(3):111-132.

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

European Barberry Also Interacts With Other Medications

European Barberry has 1,209 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol 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 European Barberry

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol

This page covers European Barberry only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol page lists 243 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), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 10 major · 193 moderate · 40 minor.

Open the Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2 real supplement products containing European Barberry, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides European Barberry. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol too, on top of European Barberry — 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 European Barberry and Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol 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 European Barberry
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol
Top 5%

#118 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 European Barberry

What is European Barberry?

European Barberry
  • Digestive upset
  • Antimicrobial support
  • Blood sugar support
  • Cholesterol and metabolic support
  • Skin conditions

European barberry is a shrub whose root, bark, and berries contain berberine, a bitter plant alkaloid that has been studied mostly in isolated form. Some early research on berberine is promising for blood sugar and cholesterol, but high-quality evidence for the whole barberry herb is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full European Barberry monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & European Barberry

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

0Major
1,209Moderate
0Minor
1,620No known interaction
Moderate

1,209 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,209 moderate interactions — see all 1,209 on the European Barberry page.

No interaction 1,620 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 European Barberry and Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol Together: Common Questions

Can you take European Barberry with Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol?
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 European Barberry and Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol 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 Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol and European Barberry?

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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.