Drug & supplement interaction

European Barberry + Bromodiphenhydramine

Bromodiphenhydramine brand name: Ambodryl.

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

European Barberry has a moderate interaction with Bromodiphenhydramine. Theoretically, taking European barberry with anticholinergic drugs might 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 Bromodiphenhydramine

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

Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Bromodiphenhydramine

Bromodiphenhydramine falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group European Barberry interacts with.

Theoretically, taking European barberry with anticholinergic drugs might cause additive effects.
In vitro evidence suggests that European barberry might have anticholinergic properties.
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

Bromodiphenhydramine (Ambodryl) is an older antihistamine, and like its cousin diphenhydramine (Benadryl), it has strong anticholinergic activity. That's the part of its action that can leave you with a dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, trouble emptying your bladder, drowsiness, and sometimes a foggy or confused feeling.

The idea here is that European barberry may have mild anticholinergic effects of its own in lab studies. So in theory, pairing the two could nudge those same side effects a little higher. I want to be honest though: this is a theoretical concern based only on test-tube findings, not real-world reports, so it's low on the worry list. Still, since both can pull in the same direction, it's worth mentioning to your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Shamsa F, Ahmadiani A, Khosrokhavar R. Antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of barberry fruit (Berberis vulgaris) in the guinea-pig ileum. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;64:161-6. 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

European Barberry Also Interacts With Other Medications

European Barberry has 1,211 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Bromodiphenhydramine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,211 No known interaction 1,619 (incl. Bromodiphenhydramine)
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 Bromodiphenhydramine

This page covers European Barberry only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Bromodiphenhydramine page lists 74 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angel's Trumpet (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 59 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Bromodiphenhydramine page

“If you take bromodiphenhydramine (Ambodryl), an older sedating antihistamine, this is a list to check before every new supplement, because 3 of the 74 entries carry a major rating. The largest group, 30 ingredients including henbane and scopolia, piles onto the drug's drying, sedating anticholinergic effects, which can mean blurred vis…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Bromodiphenhydramine 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 Bromodiphenhydramine 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 Bromodiphenhydramine 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
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Bromodiphenhydramine
Steady interest

#1,625 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
1,211Moderate
0Minor
1,618No known interaction
1,211 Moderate 1,618 No interaction
Moderate

1,211 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,211 moderate interactions — see all 1,211 on the European Barberry page.

No interaction 1,618 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,618 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full European Barberry list.

See the full European Barberry interactions page
See every supplement checked against Bromodiphenhydramine, 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
European Barberry monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Bromodiphenhydramine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Bromodiphenhydramine, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking European Barberry and Bromodiphenhydramine Together: Common Questions

Can you take European Barberry with Bromodiphenhydramine?
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 Bromodiphenhydramine 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 Bromodiphenhydramine 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.